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Background: Physiotherapists encounter challenges in diagnosing myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), which are crucial for managing myofascial pain but difficult due to their complex referred pain patterns. We aimed to assess if an interactive software (MyofAPPcial) can enhance the ability of physical therapists specialized in musculoskeletal disorders (as clinicians and as researchers and educators) to identify referred pain patterns associated with specific MTrPs and to explore their opinion about incorporating this technology regularly into their professional setting. Methods: After developing the app, a descriptive cross‐sectional survey study was conducted. Participants were asked about their demographic characteristics, professional experience, two knowledge tests (first without and later with MyofAPPcial support) and the 18‐item mHealth app usability questionnaire. Results: Fifty‐nine participants completed the survey (47.5% clinicians and 62.5% researchers/educators). Groups were comparable in terms of age, gender and professional experience (p >.05). However, clinicians coursed shorter specific MPS trainings (p =.007) and handle more cases a week (p <.001). In the first knowledge test, participants in both the groups were more accurate in identifying pain maps of highly prevalent MTrPs than those with a moderate or low prevalence (p <.001), with no differences between the groups for individual items (all, p >.05) nor the total score (p >.05). In the second knowledge test, perfect scores were obtained for all items in both the groups. Finally, MyofAPPcial scored high satisfaction and app usefulness, with no difference between clinicians and researchers/educators (except greater convenience of use for researchers/educators p =.02). Conclusions: MyofAPPcial enhances physiotherapists' ability to accurately identify MTrPs, with a good acceptation among clinicians and researchers/educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Interactions between plants and microorganisms are pivotal for plant growth and productivity. Several plant molecular mechanisms that shape these microbial communities have been identified. However, the importance of nitric oxide (NO) produced by plants for the associated microbiota remains elusive.Using Arabidopsis thaliana isogenic mutants overproducing NO (nox1, NO overexpression) or down‐producing NO (i.e. nia1nia2 impaired in the expression of both nitrate reductases NR1/NIA1 and NR2/NIA2; the 35s::GSNOR1 line overexpressing nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) and 35s::AHB1 line overexpressing haemoglobin 1 (AHB1)), we investigated how altered NO homeostasis affects microbial communities in the rhizosphere and in the roots, soil microbial activity and soil metabolites.We show that the rhizosphere microbiome was affected by the mutant genotypes, with the nox1 and nia1nia2 mutants causing opposite shifts in bacterial and fungal communities compared with the wild‐type (WT) Col‐0 in the rhizosphere and roots, respectively. These mutants also exhibited distinctive soil metabolite profiles than those from the other genotypes while soil microbial activity did not differ between the mutants and the WT Col‐0.Our findings support our hypothesis that changes in NO production by plants can influence the plant microbiome composition with differential effects between fungal and bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversification of income sources is one of the most common strategies households employ to minimize household income variability and to ensure a minimum level of income that guarantee their food security. This study examines the impact of livelihood diversification on farm profits among smallholder rice farmers in the Central Luzon Region (CLR) of the Philippines using long‐term farm‐level panel data spanning from 1966 to 2016. We employed a random‐effects ordered probit model to investigate the drivers of livelihood diversification and then used the mixed Markov chain model to analyze the transition of households from less to more diversified livelihoods and its impact on farm profits over time. Our findings reveal substantial diversification among households over time. In particular, the elevation of the farm location is a key driver of rice farm households' probability to diversify. The estimates show that an increase in the latitude of the farm location increases the probability of rice farmers in the CLR to diversify. We find that 64% of the rice farm households constitute farmers for whom diversification can be a strategy for survival. For medium‐ to high‐profit farm categories, diversification tends to protect farmers against farm profit losses arising from adverse climatic and weather variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the inflammatory profile of CRSwNP in Brazil and characterize the subgroups of CRSwNP patients in this population through cluster analysis. Study Design: Multicenter cross‐sectional study involving 15 centers representing different regions of Brazil. Subjects and Methods: Clinical data of 166 patients and 80 controls, aged 18 to 70 years old, number of surgeries for CRS, history of asthma and aspirin sensitivity, and Lund‐Mackay scores on CT scans. During nasal endoscopy, we obtained the Lund‐Kennedy scores and collected 2 samples of nasal polyps: one for eosinophil and neutrophil tissue counts and one to quantify different cytokines. Results: 79.6% of our patients had 10 or more eosinophils/HPF. CRSwNP groups exhibited significantly lower concentrations of TNF‐alpha and significantly higher concentrations of IFN‐gamma, CCL11/Eotaxin, CCL24/Eotaxin‐2/MPIF‐2, and CCL26/Eotaxin‐3 versus the control group (Kruskal‐Wallis test). Comparison between CRSwNP groups (≥10 vs <10 eosinophils/HPF) showed no difference in cytokine concentration (Mann‐Whitney test). Hierarchical clustering and PCA according to cytokine concentrations revealed 2 main Clusters, with a significantly higher concentration of all cytokines in Cluster 1 (n = 35) than in Cluster 2 (n = 121), except IL‐6 and IL‐33 (Mann‐Whitney test). According to ROC curve analysis the best cut‐off to differentiate the 2 clusters was 43 eosinophils/HPF. The group with ≥43 presented a higher prevalence of men and a higher Lund‐Mackay score (Mann‐Whitney test). Conclusions: CRSwNP patients in Brazil present mixed inflammation, with 2 distinct groups (high and low inflammatory pattern) that can be distinguished by tissue eosinophilia of ≥43 eosinophils/HPF cut‐off in nasal polyps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consciousness, defined as being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings, is characteristic of normal waking life and typically is lost during sleep and general anaesthesia. The traditional view of consciousness as a global brain state has evolved toward a more sophisticated interplay between global and local states, with the presence of local sleep in the awake brain and local wakefulness in the sleeping brain. However, this interplay is not clear for general anaesthesia, where loss of consciousness was recently suggested to be associated with a global state of brain‐wide synchrony that selectively involves layer 5 cortical pyramidal neurons across sensory, motor and associative areas. According to this global view, local wakefulness of layer 5 cortex should be incompatible with deep anaesthesia, a hypothesis that deserves to be scrutinised with causal manipulations. Here, we show that unilateral chemogenetic activation of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the sensorimotor cortex of isoflurane‐anaesthetised mice induces a local state transition from slow‐wave activity to tonic firing in the transfected hemisphere. This wakefulness‐like activity dramatically disrupts layer 5 interhemispheric synchrony with mirror‐image locations in the contralateral hemisphere, but does not reduce the level of unconsciousness under deep anaesthesia, nor in the transitions to/from anaesthesia. Global layer 5 synchrony may thus be a sufficient condition for anaesthesia‐induced unconsciousness, but is not a necessary one, at least under isoflurane anaesthesia. Local wakefulness‐like activity of layer 5 cortex can be induced and maintained under deep anaesthesia, encouraging further investigation into the local vs. global aspects of anaesthesia‐induced unconsciousness. Key points: The neural correlates of consciousness have evolved from global brain states to a nuanced interplay between global and local states, evident in terms of local sleep in awake brains and local wakefulness in sleeping brains.The concept of local wakefulness remains unclear for general anaesthesia, where the loss of consciousness has been recently suggested to involve brain‐wide synchrony of layer 5 cortical neurons.We found that local wakefulness‐like activity of layer 5 cortical can be chemogenetically induced in anaesthetised mice without affecting the depth of anaesthesia or the transitions to and from unconsciousness.Global layer 5 synchrony may thus be a sufficient but not necessary feature for the unconsciousness induced by general anaesthesia.Local wakefulness‐like activity of layer 5 neurons is compatible with general anaesthesia, thus promoting further investigation into the local vs. global aspects of anaesthesia‐induced unconsciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effect of systemic administration of propranolol on the severity of apical periodontitis (AP) in chronically stressed rats. Methodology: Twenty‐four 70‐day‐old male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus, albinus) were distributed into three groups (n = 8): rats with AP without stressful conditions (AP‐Control), rats with AP and submitted to a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) protocol (AP + S) and rats with AP and submitted to a CUS protocol treated with propranolol (AP + S + PRO). Stress procedures were applied daily until the end of the experiment. After 3 weeks of CUS, AP was induced in all groups by exposing the pulpal tissue of mandibular and maxillary first molars to the oral environment. Propranolol treatment was administered orally once a day for the entire period of the experiment. Rats were sacrificed at 42 days, and the blood was collected for stress biomarkers serum dosage by multiplex assay. Mandibles were removed and submitted to microtomography and histopathological analyses. Periapical tissue surrounding the upper first molar was homogenized and subjected to RT‐PCR analysis to evaluate the mRNA expression of RANKL, TRAP and OPG. Parametric data were assessed using one‐way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test while the nonparametric data were analysed by the Kruskal–Wallis followed by Dunn's test. Significance level was set at 5% (p <.05) for all assessed parameters. Results: Micro‐CT revealed statistically significant differences in bone resorption which was greater in the AP + S group (p <.05), but no differences were observed between the Control and AP + S + PRO groups (p >.05). The AP + S + PRO group had a lower intensity and extent of inflammatory infiltrate compared to the AP + S group with smaller areas of bone loss (p < 0.05). The gene expression of RANKL and TRAP was significantly higher in the stressed group AP + S compared to the control group (p <.05), and a significantly higher OPG expression was observed in AP + S + PRO compared to the AP + S group (p <.05). Conclusions: Oral administration of propranolol had a significant effect on the AP severity in stressed rats, suggesting an anti‐inflammatory effect and a protective role on bone resorption of AP in stressed animals. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The gastrocnemius venous system presents different anatomical variants. There have been described four locations of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in this muscle. However, no studies have analyzed the coincidence between vessels and MTrPs present in the gastrocnemius. Therefore, the main objective was to study the anatomical variability of the venous system by ultrasound and its coincidence with the location of the MTrPs. Methods: A total of 100 lower limbs were studied. The gastrocnemius vessels were analyzed one by one by sector (medial, central, and lateral), quantifying the number of vessels, their distribution, and the coincidence with MTrPs. Results: All muscle heads showed at least one vessel per section. A large variability was observed, from one to eight vessels per muscle head, with the most frequent number being three in the gastrocnemius medialis and two in the gastrocnemius lateralis. In all cases, the location of the vessels coincided with the MTrPs. Conclusions: The proximal gastrocnemius venous pattern is very variable between subjects in number of vessels and distribution, which has made it impossible to define a "safe" approach window for invasive procedures without ultrasound guidance. The coincidence between the clinical location of MTrPs of the gastrocnemius and the presence of vessels is total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica (PPK) is a RASopathy characterized by the presence of a sebaceous nevus and a papular speckled lentiginous nevus. This case report highlights the associated extracutaneous comorbidities, including life‐threatening arrhythmia, and introduces topical rapamycin as a potential therapeutic avenue for sebaceous nevus in PPK patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Considering the current prevalence in obesity and sarcopenia globally, this study aimed to summarize the development of sarcopenic obesity research to establish the topic's past, present, and future research direction using a bibliometric analysis. A comprehensive search for publications on sarcopenia and obesity was conducted in the Web of Science (WoS) database until the 31st of December 2023. We performed a detailed descriptive analysis, considering metrics like sources, authors, and documents, along with analyzing conceptual and social structures to map sarcopenic obesity research. Between 1993 and 2023, there were 4978 publications on sarcopenic obesity, representing 22.6% of the whole sarcopenia research (22070). Most published articles were originals (74.6%), and one of the highest increments in the fields was seen after 2010. The most significant contribution in this research area falls under the categories of Nutrition & Dietetics, Gerontology, and Geriatrics & Gerontology. Among regions, scientific production was located in 93 different countries. The United States, China, and South Korea had the highest contributions. The most relevant keywords were sarcopenia, obesity, and body composition. Research on sarcopenic obesity primarily focuses on epidemiology and identifying risk factors and outcome predictors. Yet, there is a shortage of research addressing prevention, early detection, and treatments to enhance the health of individuals with sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Chemically fueled chemical reaction networks (CRNs) are essential in controlling dissipative self‐assembly. A key challenge in the field is to store chemical fuel‐precursors or "pre‐fuels" in the system that are converted into activating or deactivating fuels in a catalytically controlled CRN. In addition, real‐time control over catalysis in a CRN by light is highly desirable, but so far not yet achieved. Here we show a catalytically driven CRN that is photoinitiated with 450 nm light, producing activated monomers that go on to perform transient self‐assembly. Monomer activation proceeds via photoredox catalysis, converting the monomer alcohol groups into the corresponding aldehydes that self‐assemble into large supramolecular fibers. Monomer deactivation is achieved by organometallic catalysis that relies on pre‐fuel hydrolysis to release formate (i.e. the deactivating fuel). Additionally, irradiation with 305 nm light accelerates the release of formate by photo‐uncaging the pre‐fuel, leading to a factor of ca. 2 faster deactivation of the monomer. Overall, we show transient self‐assembly upon visible light photoactivation, and tunable life‐times by ultraviolet light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien species are one main driver of biodiversity loss and can cause severe economic costs. Effective management of such species requires early detection of colonising individuals, but this is often hampered by biological or economic constraints.Trachymela sloanei (Blackburn, 1896), an Australian Eucalyptus defoliator beetle, is an invasive alien species that has spread to the Americas, Asia and most recently Europe.We analyse the expansion of T. sloanei in the Iberian Peninsula both at regional and local scales, study its phenology and relative abundance, and explore the use of nest boxes for early detection.The species is spreading steadily, and the area potentially affected has increased dramatically in a few years. Both adults and larvae were observed between June and November, suggesting the occurrence of several overlapping generations. More than 300 individuals were found aggregated behind single nest boxes.We conclude that the installation and monitoring of nest boxes or similar structures (e.g., cork boards) can facilitate early detection of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of the different population‐level processes operating within a species, and the genetic variability of the individual prokaryotic genomes, is key to understanding the adaptability of microbial populations. Here, we characterized the flexible genome of ammonia‐oxidizing archaeal (AOA) populations using a metagenomic recruitment approach and long‐read (PacBio HiFi) metagenomic sequencing. In the lower photic zone of the western Mediterranean Sea (75 m deep), the genomes Nitrosopelagicus brevis CN25 and Nitrosopumilus catalinensis SPOT1 had the highest recruitment values among available complete AOA genomes. They were used to analyse the diversity of flexible genes (variable from strain to strain) by examining the long‐reads located within the flexible genomic islands (fGIs) identified by their under‐recruitment. Both AOA genomes had a large fGI involved in the glycosylation of exposed structures, highly variable, and rich in glycosyltransferases. N. brevis had two fGIs related to the transport of phosphorus and ammonium respectively. N. catalinensis had fGIs involved in phosphorus transportation and metal uptake. A fGI5 previously reported as 'unassigned function' in N. brevis could be associated with defense. These findings demonstrate that the microdiversity of marine microbe populations, including AOA, can be effectively characterized using an approach that incorporates third‐generation sequencing metagenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Kazakhstan has one of the fastest‐growing HIV epidemics in the world, with increasing rates among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Innovative strategies are needed to increase HIV testing uptake and decrease HIV stigma among AYA. Citizen science, defined as the active engagement of the general public in scientific research tasks, promotes and facilitates community engagement throughout the research process. This citizen science study used crowdsourcing to engage AYA in Kazakhstan to develop a digital intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self‐testing. Our objectives in this paper are to describe the approach used, its feasibility and acceptability, and AYA motivations for and lessons learned collaborating on the study. Methods: From October 2021 to July 2022, in collaboration with a Community Collaborative Research Board and a Youth Advisory Board, we developed an open call requesting multimedia submissions to reduce HIV testing stigma. Eligible submissions were separated by age group (13−19 or 20−29 years) and judged by a panel composed of AYA (n = 23), healthcare professionals (n = 12), and representatives from the local government and non‐governmental organizations (n = 17). Each entry was reviewed by at least four judges and ranked on a 5‐point scale. The top 20 open call contestants were asked to submit self‐recordings sharing their motivation for and experience participating in the contest and lessons learned. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative data. Qualitative data were coded using open coding. Results: We received 96 submissions from 77 youth across Kazakhstan. Roughly, three‐quarters (n = 75/96) of entries met judging eligibility criteria. Of the eligible entries, over half (n = 39/75) scored 3.5 or higher on a 5‐point scale (70.0%). The most frequent types of entries were video (n = 36/96, 37.5%), image (n = 28/96, 29.2%) and text (n = 24/96, 25.0%). AYA's primary motivations for collaborating on the study included a desire to improve society and help youth. The main challenges included creating content to address complex information using simple language, finding reliable information online and technological limitations. Conclusions: Crowdsourcing was feasible and highly acceptable among AYA in Kazakhstan. Citizen science approaches hold great promise for addressing the increasingly complex health and social challenges facing communities today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to explore differences in Google search autocompletes between English and Spanish‐speaking users during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Twenty‐nine individuals who were in areas with shelter‐in‐place state orders participated in a virtual focus group meeting to understand the algorithm bias of COVID‐19 Google autocompletes. The three focus group meetings lasted for 90–120 minutes. A codebook was created and transcripts were coded using NVivo qualitative software with a 95% intercoder reliability between two coders. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Among the 29 participants, six self‐identified as White, seven as Black/African American, five as American Indian or Alaska Native, four as Asian Indian, and three as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. In terms of ethnicity, 21 participants identified as Hispanic/Latino. The themes that emerged from the study were: (1) autocompletes evoked fear and stress; (2) skepticism and hesitation towards autocomplete search; (3) familiarity with COVID‐19 information impacts outlook on autocomplete search; (4) autocompletes can promote preselection of searches; and (5) lesser choice of autocomplete results for Spanish‐speaking searchers. Spanish speakers expressed concerns and hesitation due to social factors and lack of information about COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inbreeding depression is a genetic phenomenon associated with the loss of fitness and mean phenotypic performance due to mating between relatives. Historically, inbreeding coefficients have been estimated from pedigree information. However, the onset of genomic selection programs provides large datasets of individuals genotyped using SNP arrays, enabling more precise assessment of an individual's genomic‐level inbreeding using genomic data. One of the traits most sensitive to issues stemming from increased inbreeding is reproduction. This is particularly important in equine, in which fertility is only moderate compared to other livestock species. To explore this further, we evaluated the effect of inbreeding on five reproductive traits (age at first foaling (AFF), average interval between foalings (AIF), total number of foalings (NF), productive life (PL) and reproductive efficiency (RE)) in Pura Raza Español mares using genomic data. Residual predicted phenotypes were obtained by purging these traits through the REML (wgResidual) and ssGREML (gResidual) approaches in reproductive data of 29,847 PRE mares using the BLUPF90+ program. Next, we used pedigree‐based (Fped) and ROH‐based genomic (FROH) inbreeding coefficients derived from 1018 animals genotyped with 61,271 SNPs to estimate the inbreeding depression (linear regression). Our results indicated significant levels of inbreeding depression for all reproductive traits, with the exception of the AIF trait when Fped was used. However, all traits were negatively affected by the increase in genomic inbreeding, and FROH was found to capture more inbreeding depression than Fped. Likewise, REML models (ssGREML) using genomic data for estimated predicted residual phenotypes resulted in higher variance explained by the model compared with the models not using genomics (REML). Finally, a segmented regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of inbreeding depression, revealing that the levels of genealogical and genomic homozygosity do not manifest uniformly in reproductive traits. In contrast, the levels of inbreeding depression ranged from low to high as homozygosity increased. This analysis also showed that reproductive traits are very sensitive to inbreeding depression, even with relatively low levels of homozygosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to assess the frequency of dosing inconsistencies in prescription data and the effect of four dosing assumption strategies on adherence estimates for antipsychotic treatment. Methods: A retrospective cohort, which linked prescription and dispensing data of adult patients with ≥1 antipsychotic prescription between 2015‐2016 and followed up until 2019, in Catalonia (Spain). Four strategies were proposed for selecting the recommended dosing in overlapping prescription periods for the same patient and antipsychotic drug: (i) the minimum dosing prescribed; (ii) the dose corresponding to the latest prescription issued; (iii) the highest dosing prescribed; and (iv) all doses included in the overlapped period. For each strategy, one treatment episode per patient was selected, and the Continuous Medication Availability measure was used to assess adherence. Descriptive statistics were used to describe results by strategy. Results: Of the 277 324 prescriptions included, 76% overlapped with other prescriptions (40% with different recommended dosing instructions). The number and characteristics of patients and treatment episodes (18 292, 18 303, 18 339 and 18 536, respectively per strategy) were similar across strategies. Mean adherence was similar between strategies, ranging from 57 to 60%. However, the proportion of patients with adherence ≥90% was lower when selecting all doses (28%) compared with the other strategies (35%). Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of overlapping prescriptions, the strategies proposed did not show a major effect on the adherence estimates for antipsychotic treatment. Taking into consideration the particularities of antipsychotic prescription practices, selecting the highest dose in the overlapped period seemed to provide a more accurate adherence estimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can archaeobotanical material be treated as a nomenclatural type of a fossil taxon? Here we show that archaeobotanical taxa should be named according to the rules for non‐fossil taxa. Examples of archaeobotanical taxa are summarized and discussed. A best‐practice guide for the correct treatment of archaeological plant remains as the type of a new name is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Ovarian Wilms tumour (WT)/nephroblastoma is an extremely rare neoplasm that has been reported to occur in pure form or as a component of a teratomatous neoplasm. We hypothesized that teratoma‐associated and pure ovarian WT may represent different tumour types with diverging molecular backgrounds. To test this hypothesis, we comprehensively characterized a series of five tumours originally diagnosed as ovarian WT. Methods and Results: The five cases comprised three teratoma‐associated (two mature and one immature) and two pure WTs. Two of the teratoma‐associated WTs consisted of small nodular arrangements of "glandular"/epithelial structures, while the third consisted of both an epithelial and a diffuse spindle cell/blastemal component. The pure WTs consisted of "glandular" structures, which were positive for sex cord markers (including inhibin and SF1) together with a rhabdomyosarcomatous component. The two pure WTs harboured DICER1 pathogenic variants (PVs), while the three associated with teratomas were DICER1 wildtype. Panel‐based DNA sequencing of four of the cases did not identify PVs in the other genes investigated. Analysis of the HA19/IGF2 imprinting region showed retention of imprinting in the pure WTs but loss of heterozygosity with hypomethylation of the ICR1 region in two of three teratoma‐associated WTs. Furthermore, copy number variation and clustering‐based whole‐genome DNA methylation analyses identified divergent molecular profiles for pure and teratoma‐associated WTs. Conclusion: Based on the morphological features, immunophenotype, and molecular findings (DICER1 PVs, copy number, and DNA methylation profiles), we suggest that the two cases diagnosed as pure primary ovarian WT represent moderately to poorly differentiated Sertoli Leydig cell tumours (SLCTs), while the tumours arising in teratomas represent true WTs. It is possible that at least some prior cases reported as pure primary ovarian WT represent SLCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present‐day convergence between Caribbean and North American plates is accommodated by subduction zones, major active thrusts and strike‐slip faults, which are probably the source of the historical large earthquakes on Hispaniola. However, little is known of their geometric and kinematic characteristics, slip rates and seismic activity over time. This information is important to understand the active tectonics in Hispaniola, but it is also crucial to estimate the seismic hazard in the region. Here we show that a relatively constant NE‐directed shortening controlled the geometry and kinematics of main active faults in southern central Hispaniola, as well as the evolution of the Quaternary stress regime. This evolution included a pre‐Early Pleistocene D1 event of NE‐trending compression, which gave rise to the large‐scale fold and thrust structure in the Cordillera Central, Peralta Belt, Sierra Martín García and San Juan‐Azua basin. This was followed by a near pure strike‐slip D2 stress regime, partitioned into the N‐S to NE‐SW transverse Ocoa‐Bonao‐La Guácara and Beata Ridge fault zones, as well as subordinate structures in related sub‐parallel deformation corridors. Shift to D2 strike‐slip deformation was related to indentation of the Beata Ridge in southern Hispaniola from the Early to Middle Pleistocene and continues today. D2 was locally coeval by a more heterogeneous and geographically localized D3 extensional deformation. Defined seismotectonic fault zones divide the region into a set of simplified seismogenic zones as starting point for a seismic hazard modeling. Highest peak ground acceleration values computed in the Ocoa Bay establish a very high seismic hazard. Key Points: Active faults in central southern Hispaniola are controlled by NE‐directed shorteningQuaternary stress regime evolution includes a compressional D1 followed by a strike‐slip D2, locally coeval with an extensional D3Modeling establishes a very high seismic hazard zone centered in the Ocoa Bay [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yeasts have been widely used as a model to better understand cell cycle mechanisms and how nutritional and genetic factors can impact cell cycle progression. While nitrogen scarcity is well known to modulate cell cycle progression, the relevance of nitrogen excess for microorganisms has been overlooked. In our previous work, we observed an absence of proper entry into the quiescent state in Hanseniaspora vineae and identified a potential link between this behavior and nitrogen availability. Furthermore, the Hanseniaspora genus has gained attention due to a significant loss of genes associated with DNA repair and cell cycle. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen concentrations on H. vineae's cell cycle progression. Our findings demonstrated that nitrogen excess, regardless of the source, disrupts cell cycle progression and induces G2/M arrest in H. vineae after reaching the stationary phase. Additionally, we observed a viability decline in H. vineae cells in an ammonium‐dependent manner, accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial hyperpolarization, intracellular acidification, and DNA fragmentation. Overall, our study highlights the events of the cell cycle arrest in H. vineae induced by nitrogen excess and attempts to elucidate the possible mechanism triggering this absence of proper entry into the quiescent state. Take‐away: High concentrations of nitrogen inhibit proper quiescent arrest in Hanseniaspora vineae.The decline in viability of yeast is ammonium‐dependent.Ammonium excess leads to an increase in reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial hyperpolarization.Ammonium excess triggers intracellular acidification and DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context dependence arises when ecological relationships vary with the conditions under which they are observed. Context dependence of interactions involving parasites is poorly known, even if it is key to understanding host–parasite relationships and food web dynamics. This paper investigates to which extent predation pressure on an avian ectoparasite (Carnus hemapterus) is context‐dependent. Based on a predator‐exclusion experiment, predation pressure on C. hemapterus pupae in the host's nest for 3 years, and its variation between habitat types are quantified. Variation in precipitation and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is also explored as a likely cause of context dependency. We hypothesize that predation pressure should fluctuate with such surrogates of food availability, so that inter‐annual and intra‐annual differences may emerge. The number of nests with significant reduction of pupae varied widely among years ranging from 24% to 75%. However, average pupae reduction in nests where a significant reduction occurred did not vary between years. No differences in predation rates between habitat types were detected. Precipitation and NDVI varied widely between years and NDVI was consistently lower around nests on cliffs than around nests on trees and farmhouses. Parallels were found between variation in predation pressure and precipitation/NDVI at a wide scale (highest predation the driest year, and much lower the 2 rainier ones), but not at the nest scale. This paper shows clear context‐dependent insect predation pressure on an ectoparasite under natural conditions, and that such interaction changes in signs rather than magnitude between years. The causes for these variations require longer‐term studies and/or well‐designed, large‐scale experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Successful recovery from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) can be characterized by minimal presence of symptoms and absence of disease on endoscopy. However, molecular markers of surgical success remain to be characterized. These could allow for better tailoring of perioperative therapy. This study aims to identify novel molecular markers associated with surgery responsive patient. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Single academic hospital center. Method: One hundred eighteen consecutive patients with CRS at high risk of recurrence after surgery were followed prospectively following ESS in an academic medical center. Symptomatic and endoscopic outcomes were assessed at 4 months, with success rigorously defined subjectively as minimal or no symptoms (no symptom greater than 1 on an ordinal scale of 0‐3) and objectively by the absence of nasal polyposis on sinus cavity endoscopy and Lund‐Kennedy endoscopic edema score no greater than 1. Samples were obtained at the time of surgery and at 4‐month postoperatively. Changes associated with surgery were determined by gene expression profiling using Affymetrix's Clariom S Human HT arrays. Results: Successful ESS was characterized by a mild upregulation in Type 1 inflammation, upregulation of cell cycle progression, and epithelial barrier and proliferation‐associated genes and pathways. ESS failure was associated to very high levels of Type 1 inflammation along with downregulation of epithelial barrier function and regeneration genes and pathways. Conclusion: Successful recovery from ESS involves restoration of epithelial function and regulated activation of Type 1 inflammation. Excessively elevated Type 1 inflammation is associated with epithelial barrier dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial ecology of meromictic lakes assessed with "omics" is still poorly studied compared to other aquatic systems. Here, a combination of metagenomics, high resolution sampling and detailed physical–chemical data gathering allowed to study the planktonic prokaryotic assemblages and metabolic capabilities in the crenogenic meromictic Lake El Tobar (Spain), a model lake for such purposes. This system presents a specific stratification comprising a freshwater layer and a halocline linked to the oxycline, driving to the euxinic hypersaline waters of the deep monimolimnion. The different strata showed a highly diverse and vertically distributed microbiome with their metabolic capacities fitting/influencing the physical–chemical environment. Overall, up to 338 novel genomes were found from metagenome assembled genomes. Picocyanobacteria and methanotrophs were abundant in the upper part of the oxycline. Anoxygenic phototrophs (Chlorobium, Thiohalocapsa, Chromatiaceae, Rhodospirillum, and Rhodobacteraceae spp.) dominated the 12.5–14 m anoxic waters with dim light availability. Sulfate reducers (Desulfobacterota and Firmicutes) inhabited low redox horizons from 13.5 to the bottom (18 m). The potential microbial synergistic performance increases toward the monimolimnion. Among these, a microbial assemblage mostly composed of Spirochaetota, Cloacimonadota, Omitrophota, Firmicutes, Marinisomatota, Nanoarchaeota, and Patescibacteria in hypersaline waters of 14–18 m (conductivities of 118–213 mS cm−1), is potentially capable of performing mixed‐acid fermentations, even including hydrogen and butanol biosynthesis of biotechnological interest. This metagenomics study shows how microbial lifestyles may be determinant in the interplay of environmental gradients, and exemplifies the potential interactions between the microbial guilds thereby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally assumed that parents make a genetically equal contribution to their offspring, but this assumption might not always hold. This is because the expression of a gene can be blocked by methylation during gametogenesis, and the degree of methylation can depend on the origin of the parental gene (imprinting) or by preferential management associated with genetic merit. The first consequences of this for quantitative genetics is that the mean phenotypes of reciprocal heterozygotes need no longer be the same, as would be expected according to Mendelian heritage. We analysed three mare reproductive traits (reproductive efficiency, age at first foaling and foaling number) and three morphological traits (height at withers, thoracic circumference, and scapula‐ischial length) in the Pura Raza Española (PRE) horse population, which possesses a deep and reliable pedigree, making it a perfect breed for analysing the quantitative effect of parent‐of‐origin. The number of animals analysed ranged from 44,038 to 144,191, all of them with both parents known. The model comparison between a model without parent‐of‐origin effects and three different models with parent‐of‐origin effects revealed that both maternal and paternal gametic effects influence all the analysed traits. The maternal gametic effect had a higher influence on most traits, accounting for between 3% and 11% of the total phenotypic variance, while the paternal gametic effect accounted for a higher proportion of variance in one trait, age at first foaling (4%). As expected, the Pearson's correlations between additive breeding values of models that consider parent‐of‐origin and that do not consider parent‐of‐origin were very high; however, the percentage of coincident animals slightly decreases when comparing animals with the highest estimated breeding values. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that parent‐of‐origin effects exist in horse gene transmission from a quantitative point of view. Additionally, including an estimate of the parent‐of‐origin effect within the PRE horse breeding program could be a great tool for a better parent's selection and that could be of interest for breeders, as this value will determine whether the animals acquire genetic categories and are much more highly valued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous in vitro transcriptomic profiling suggests azithromycin exerts its effects in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) via modulation of type 1 inflammation and restoration of epithelial barrier function. We wished to verify these postulated effects using in vitro models of epithelial repair and in vivo transcriptional profiling. Study Design: Functional effects of azithromycin in CRS were verified using in vitro models of wounding. The mechanism of the effect of azithromycin was assessed in vivo using transcriptomic profiling. Setting: Academic medical center. Methods: Effects of azithromycin on the speed of epithelial repair were verified in a wounding model using primary nasal epithelial cells (pNEC) from CRS patients. Nasal brushings collected pre‐and posttreatment during a placebo‐controlled trial of azithromycin for CRS patients unresponsive to surgery underwent transcriptomic profiling to identify implicated pathways. Results: Administration of azithromycin improved the wound healing rates in CRS pNECs and prevented the negative effect of Staphylococcus aureus on epithelial repair. In vivo, response to azithromycin was associated with downregulation in pathways of type 1 inflammation, and upregulation of pathways implicated in the restoration of the cell cycle. Conclusion: Restoration of healthy epithelial function may represent a major mode of action of azithromycin in CRS. In vitro models show enhanced epithelial repair, while in vivo transcriptomics shows downregulation of pathways type 1 inflammation accompanied by upregulation of DNA repair and cell‐cycle pathways. The maximal effect in patients with high levels of type 1‐enhanced inflammation suggests that azithromycin may represent a novel therapeutic option for surgery‐unresponsive CRS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the relationship between demographic, clinical, psychological and pressure pain sensitivity outcomes with the central sensitization inventory (CSI) in female with fibromyalgia (FMS).Methods: One hundred and twenty-six (n = 126) females with FMS completed demographic (age, body mass index, height, weight), clinical (pain history, pain intensity at rest and during daily living activities), psychological (depression/anxiety levels) outcomes and widespread pressure pain sensitivity as well as the central sensitization inventory (CSI). After conducting a multivariable correlation analysis to identify the association between variables, a multiple linear regression model was performed to identify CSI predictors.Results: The CSI was negatively associated with age (r = -0.262) and PPTs (r ranged from -0.221 to -0.372) and positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.541), depression (r = 0.415), mean intensity (r = 0.305), worst pain (r = 0.249) and pain during daily living activities (r = 0.398). The stepwise regression analysis revealed that 47.4% of CSI variance in this sample was explained by anxiety levels (27.8%), PPT at greater trochanter (10.5%), age (1.4%), years with pain (4.8%) and pain during daily living activities (2.9%).Conclusion: The current study found that age, pain intensity at rest and pain during daily living activities, anxiety levels and pressure pain sensitivity are associated with the CSI (associated sensitization symptoms) in women with FMS.Significance: This study found that sensitization-associated symptoms in women with FMS are partially influenced by age, pain intensity at rest and pain during daily living activities, anxiety levels and pressure pain sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aesthetic medicine is characterized by the efficacy and safety of treatments. Although sometimes adverse events could be occurred, in this case vascular occlusion is the most serious of them. The tissue is deprived of oxygen and there is a possibility of necrosis, so it is necessary to remove the tissue filler and promote oxygenation. Objective: We propose the hyperbaric oxygenation treatment to oxygenate the tissue after vascular occlusion generated by a tissue filler such as Hyaluronic Acid. Results: We show how hyperbaric oxygenation treatment is an adjuvant therapy after vascular occlusion, improving tissue regeneration and prevent or limit scars or sequelae. Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygenation treatment is a safe and effective method to treat vascular accident, improving tissue oxygenation in early cases and improving tissue regeneration in cases with necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pervasive computing has become a key element to build applications that use fun as a motivating component because it allows exploring new interaction schemes by making the concept of space and time ambiguous and confusing. The present research describes a pervasive social gaming experience, using as a reference SocialPG, which is a model that describes social expansion as a strategy to improve gaming experiences supported by pervasive computing. In this article a description of the model is offered, software architecture is proposed to support it and a case study related to the process of error resolution and detection of improvement opportunities in software products is developed, finally, a general idea about the final software product that will support the game experience is offered together with an evaluation performed by a set of users, where some important findings are highlighted, such as the importance of the missions as a unit of cooperative work and the spectator's participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary adaptations of prokaryotes to the environment sometimes result in genome reduction. Our knowledge of this phenomenon among free‐living bacteria remains scarce. We address the dynamics and limits of genome reduction by examining one of the most abundant bacteria in the ocean, the SAR86 clade. Despite its abundance, comparative genomics has been limited by the absence of pure cultures and the poor representation in metagenome‐assembled genomes. We co‐assembled multiple previously available single‐amplified genomes to obtain the first complete genomes from members of the four families. All families showed a convergent evolutionary trajectory with characteristic features of streamlined genomes, most pronounced in the TMED112 family. This family has a genome size of ca. 1 Mb and only 1 bp as median intergenic distance, exceeding values found in other abundant microbes such as SAR11, OM43 and Prochlorococcus. This genomic simplification led to a reduction in the biosynthesis of essential molecules, DNA repair‐related genes, and the ability to sense and respond to environmental factors, which could suggest an evolutionary dependence on other co‐occurring microbes for survival (Black Queen hypothesis). Therefore, these reconstructed genomes within the SAR86 clade provide new insights into the limits of genome reduction in free‐living marine bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since there is an increasing rate of physiotherapists using invasive procedures during the clinical practice, understanding the cross‐sectional anatomy and radiological images is essential for ensuring patients' safety during these interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the students' opinion of including cross‐sectional and radiological images to traditional methodologies, to evaluate whether these additional resources improve their ability to identify musculoskeletal structures in radiological images and their understanding of neurovascular and visceral structures related with specific muscles to be avoided during invasive procedures. First‐year undergraduate physiotherapy students were enrolled in the study. A brief online survey asking about their opinion about the use of cross‐sectional and radiological images as complementary resources was built. In addition, two open‐answer tests (before and after the inclusion of these resources) were conducted to evaluate their ability to identify correctly musculoskeletal structures in magnetic resonance and ultrasound images and to evaluate their awareness of high‐risk structures related with specific muscles. One‐hundred‐thirty‐two students returned the online survey and one‐hundred‐forty‐eight completed all the tests. In general, students opined cross‐sectional images to be of utility for learning anatomy (81.8%) and radiological images (93.9%) and felt they benefited from cross‐sectional and ultrasound images (78.0%). All tests showed significant improvements after the inclusion of these complementary resources (all, p < 0.001) except for trunk structures in MRI (p = 0.777). The implementation of anatomical cross‐sectional and radiological images resulted in better understanding of radiological images and better cognition of possible risk during invasive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis is a chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa and nasal polyps are present in ~25%–30% of cases (chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps [CRSwNP]). CRSwNP is associated with significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, making it clinically important. Inflammation leads to DNA damage and DNA mutations occur in some inflammatory diseases. Notably, mutations in KRAS, BRAF, and EGFR have been reported in different human benign and malignant neoplastic lesions. In addition, KRAS mutations have also been reported in non‐neoplastic tissues under chronic inflammatory conditions. Importantly, KRAS mutations have been reported in oncocytic sinonasal papillomas and sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma associated with oncocytic sinonasal papilloma and EGFR mutations have been reported in sinonasal adenocarcinoma, inverted sinonasal papilloma, and sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma associated with inverted sinonasal papilloma. The molecular pathogenesis of nasal polyps remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of KRAS, BRAF, and EGFR pathogenic mutations in CRSwNP. Methods: Fourteen chronic rhinosinusitis‐associated nasal polyp samples were direct sequenced, targeting KRAS exons 2, 3, and 4 (encompassing important hotspot mutations, including codons 12, 13, 61 and 146), BRAF exons 11 and 15, and EGFR exons 19 and 20. Results: No pathogenic mutations were detected in the sequenced regions of KRAS, BRAF, and EGFR genes. Conclusion: This finding suggests that mutations in these genes are not a frequent event in CRSwNP, and, if they occur, they might represent marginal events at best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation is a worldwide problem with natural and anthropogenic causes. An important anthropogenic cause of land degradation is land uses that deviate from land capability, which is the "natural" use. Despite the conscience of scientists about this issue, studies are lacking that set up a quantitative nexus between land capability and related drivers. This nexus is essential because it allows anticipating changes in the drivers that promote or recede degradation. In this study, a partial least squares–path model (PLS–PM) was used to help closing this gap. The pilot study occurred in seven Paraopeba River sub‐basins located in the State of Minas Gerais (Brazil), where capability is dominated by mosaics of forests and pastures. Land capability was assessed by the ruggedness number, being inversely proportional to it. Among multiple potential drivers of land capability initially included in the model, collinearity and other consistency and performance analyses indicated the percentage of latosols and (re)forested areas, annual rainfall, and water‐related processes (e.g., weathering, nutrient leaching) as prominent in the studied region. The results linked increases of latosol and forest occupation to runoff reduction [runoff = latosol × (−0.640) + forest × (−0.156) + reforestation × (−0.379)], suggesting an attenuation of erosion by these parameters, namely gully erosion that impacts on the ruggedness number and land capability in the sequel. The weathering of carbonate rocks was also related to land capability changes because the PLS–PM model exposed a relationship between the ruggedness number and products of carbonate rock dissolution: ruggedness number = alkalinity × (−0.578) + total magnesium × (0.462) + dissolved oxygen × (−0.418). In addition to highlighting processes capable of changing land capability overtime, the model equations brought attention to measures that could improve it in the region thus preventing degradation. The measures included management practices capable to raise the soil's dissolved oxygen (e.g., through aeration) or preventing soil's magnesium deficiency (e.g., through foliar sprays). The network of cause‐and‐effect relationships set up by the PLS–PM model was finally used to elucidate about potential land use changes that would bring capability in the Paraopeba River basin towards a better status, such as conversions to pasture land. Future work is expected to further elucidate about the benefits for land capability of specific land use changes, through the testing of expected socioeconomic development scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to GPS measurements, the Caribbean plate is moving east‐northeastward relative to the North American plate at a rate of ∼20 mm/a. This oblique motion is partly accommodated in southern Hispaniola by northward underthrusting/subduction bellow the Muertos submerged accretionary prism and the Peralta fold‐and‐thrust belt. This work investigates the active transition zone that connects Muertos and Peralta: the Ocoa‐Bonao‐La Guacara fault zone (OBFZ). Combined detailed structural analysis at macroscopic and mesoscopic scales, regional magnetic data and seismicity analysis, geomorphic observations, fault‐slip data inversion and geochronology of Quaternary deposits allow to establish the deformation pattern for the OBFZ along southern central Hispaniola. Distinct tectonic regimes have occurred successively in the Neogene, within a consistent regional NE‐trending horizontal shortening: (a) a lower Miocene to Early Pleistocene D1 regime characterized by SW‐directed thrusting that homogeneously affects the region; and (b) an Early/Middle Pleistocene to Holocene D2 regime of strike‐slip to transpressional faulting mainly located along the OBFZ. The change is coeval with the tectonic indentation of the Beata Ridge in the back‐arc region of the Hispaniola microplate. Finally, a Late Pleistocene to Holocene D3 extensional regime has a local development around the Ocoa Bay. Part of the present‐day stress‐field induced by the Beata Ridge collision is accommodated by the OBFZ within the Hispaniola microplate. This fault zone defines the onland transition between oceanic subduction and arc‐oceanic plateau collision. Due to its length and potential to generate large earthquakes, the OBFZ must be considered in the regional seismic hazard assessment. Key Points: The Ocoa‐Bonao‐La Guacara fault zone (OBFZ) is composed of four segments with specific kinematicsThe OBFZ records an Early to Middle Pleistocene to Holocene regime of strike‐slip to transpressional faultingThe OBFZ defines the active transition between oceanic subduction and arc‐oceanic plateau collision [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavities used for avian reproduction in spring often host other organisms for roosting during winter, which should affect their microclimatic conditions and, then, the patterns of emergence of nest‐dwelling ectoparasites of birds and successful parasitism. To prove these cascade effects, we experimentally blocked the entrance of half of nest boxes previously used for reproduction by hoopoes (Upupa epops), recorded temperature and humidity during the fall–winter period, and evaluated abundance, emergence of ectoparasitic flies (Carnus hemapterus), and intensity of parasitism in hoopoe nestlings growing in open and blocked nest boxes the next spring. As expected, experimental treatment as well as the occupancy of open nest boxes by rodents (i.e., mainly dormice [Eliomys quercinus]) affected temperature and humidity, but did not predict the onset or duration of Carnus emergence. Moreover, flies were more abundant in open nest boxes and, among them, those occupied by dormice showed the lowest abundance. Finally, hoopoe nestlings developing in nest boxes blocked during winter experienced lower intensity of ectoparasitism than those in open nest boxes. These hitherto undescribed cryptic effects of overwinter occupants of nest cavities on subsequent emergence and viability of nest‐dwelling ectoparasites would profoundly impact on the interaction with their avian hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dimensional study of two problems in which groundwater flow is oblique has been carried out in order to characterize the vertical profiles of temperature along the domain affected by the flow, determining an input region in which the profiles depend on the horizontal position followed by a region in which profiles only depend on the vertical component of the flow. In the first problem, the horizontal and vertical components of velocity are constant. In the second scenario, the oblique flow of groundwater is generated because in the boundary conditions, the hydraulic potentials present a constant value. From the discriminated dimensional analysis of the mathematical model (governing equations and boundary conditions), the dependencies of the unknowns of greatest interest, characteristic lengths for the development of temperature‐depth profiles, velocity profiles and the temperature field, with the dimensionless groups deduced are established. Once these dependencies have been verified, they are graphically represented by means of curves and surfaces as universal solutions to these problems. Based on these universal solutions an inverse problem protocol for estimating water flows from temperature measurements is proposed. The use of universal graphs of the two proposed scenarios avoids the large number of numerical simulations that this type of problem required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si3N4/nickel‐base superalloy (Inconel‐625) and Si3N4/Si3N4 joints with refractory metal (W and Mo) interlayers were vacuum brazed using a Ti‐active braze Cu‐ABA (92.75Cu–3Si–2Al–2.25Ti) at 1317 K for 30 min with the following interlayered arrangements: Si3N4/Mo/W/Inconel and Si3N4/Mo/W/Si3N4. The joints exhibited Ti segregation at the Si3N4/Cu‐ABA interface, elemental interdiffusion across the joint interfaces, and sound metallurgical bonding. Knoop microhardness profiles revealed hardness gradients across the joints that mimicked the interlayered arrangement. The compressive shear strength of Si3N4/Si3N4 joints both with and without W and Mo layers was ∼142 MPa but the strength of Si3N4/Inconel joints increased from ∼9 MPa for directly bonded joints without interlayers to 53.5 MPa for joints with Mo and W interlayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoreduction of perylenediimide (PDI) derivatives has been widely studied for use in photocatalysis, hydrogen evolution, photo‐responsive gels, and organic semiconductors. Upon light irradiation, the radical anion (PDI⋅−) can readily be obtained, whereas further reduction to the dianion (PDI2−) is rare. Here we show that full 2‐electron photoreduction can be achieved using UVC light: 1) in anaerobic conditions by 'direct photoreduction' of PDI aggregates, or 2) by 'indirect photoreduction' in aerobic conditions due to acetone ketyl radicals. The latter strategy is also efficient for other dyes, such as naphthalenediimide (NDI) and methylviologen (MV2+). Efficient photoreduction on the minute time‐scale using simple LED light in aerobic conditions is attractive for use in dissipative light‐driven systems and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study revisits the issue of long‐term price convergence of rice export prices for India, Pakistan, Thailand, Uruguay, the United States, and Vietnam using a two‐stage pairwise unit root testing approach. To deduce evidence or lack of proof of convergence in price series, we also examine convergence using sigma and beta convergence specified in both unconditional and conditional frameworks. The methodology used is driven by the need to address three key concerns: (i) the likelihood of finding stationary price differentials, (ii) the magnitude of these differentials, and (iii) their speed of adjustment. To evaluate these concerns, we use monthly data for 18 price series drawn from these six countries from September 2011 to February 2021. The evidence points to a lack of international convergence. This gives rise to the possibility that a shield from a general downward export price trend is already in place for some exporters. Furthermore, we find that the likelihood of convergence is greater between pairs of price series that are characterized as high quality or having the same country of origin or having similar market share. Evidence also suggests that a converged pairing is more likely to have a smaller price differential if both price series are for low‐quality rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension in obese and overweight patients is associated with an elevated resting metabolic rate (RMR). The aim of this study was to determine whether RMR is reduced in hypertensive patients treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and blockers (ARB). The RMR was determined by indirect calorimetry in 174 volunteers; 93 (46.5 %) were hypertensive, of which 16 men and 13 women were treated with ACEI/ARB, while 30 men and 19 women with untreated hypertension served as a control group. Treated and untreated hypertensives had similar age, BMI, physical activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness. The RMR normalized to the lean body mass (LBM) was 15% higher in the untreated than ACEI/ARB-treated hypertensive women (p = .003). After accounting for LBM, whole-body fat mass, age, the double product (heart rate x systolic blood pressure), and the distance walked per day, the RMR was 2.9% lower in the patients taking ACEI/ARB (p = .26, treatment x sex interaction p = .005). LBM, age, and the double product explained 78% of the variability in RMR (R2  = 0.78, p < .001). In contrast, fat mass, the distance walked per day, and total T4 or TSH did not add predictive power to the model. Compared to men, a greater RMR per kg of LBM was observed in untreated hypertensive overweight and obese women, while this sex difference was not observed in patients treated with ACEI or ARBs. In conclusion, our results indicate that elevated RMR per kg of LBM may be normalized by antagonizing the renin-angiotensin system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many authors in the field of Environmental Philosophy have claimed to be inspired by Spinoza's monism, which has traditionally been considered a form of pantheism because nature and God coincide. This idea has deep normative implications, as some environmental ethicists claim that wounding nature is the same as wounding God, which implies a resacralization of nature. In particular, we will focus on Arne Næss's Ecosophy (or Deep Ecology) to offer a current relevant example of the pantheist (or panentheist) worldview. However, a new demarcation distinguishes pantheism from panentheism; in the latter, nature and God belong together but do not fully coincide, as in pantheism. Nevertheless, whether Spinoza is a panentheist, pantheist, or neither has yet to be fully determined, as well as whether his doctrine serves as a proper foundation for an ecology that attempts the aforementioned resacralization of nature. This article attempts to clarify these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary calculi are observed in some cultured marine fish larvae and may negatively impact larval health and survival. This study assessed urinary calculi in striped trumpeter Latris lineata larvae from hatching to 28 days post‐hatching (dph). The prevalence of urinary calculi was variable over time and ranged from 15% to 50%, whereas the average size of calculi increased with larval age. Urinary calculi were semi‐translucent, light cream to white colour with irregular morphology and a uniform internal structure. The calculi resulted in pressure atrophy causing a distended epithelium of the urinary bladder of fish with calculi. The calculi were predominantly formed of calcium hydrogen phosphate (CaHPO4). Routine assessment of the prevalence of urinary calculi in marine fish larvae is recommended, along with other parameters, to monitor larval quality and inform hatchery management actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]