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Abstract Background Altering the natural flow regime, an essential component of healthy fluvial systems, through hydropower operations has the potential to negatively impact freshwater fish populations. Establishing improved management of flow regimes requires better understanding of how fish respond to altered flow components, such as flow magnitude. Based on the results of a recent systematic map on the impacts of flow regime changes on direct outcomes of freshwater or estuarine fish productivity, evidence clusters on fish abundance and biomass responses were identified for full systematic review. The primary goal of this systematic review is to address one of those evidence clusters, with the following research question: how do changes in flow magnitude due to hydropower operations affect fish abundance and biomass? Methods This review follows the guidelines of the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. It examined commercially published and grey literature originally identified during the systematic map process and a systematic search update. All articles were screened using an a priori eligibility criteria at two stages (title and abstract, and full-text) and consistency checks were performed at all stages. All eligible articles were assessed for study validity and specifically designed data extraction and study validity tools were used. A narrative synthesis included all available evidence and meta-analysis using the standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g) was conducted where appropriate. Review findings A total of 133 studies from 103 articles were included in this systematic review for data extraction and critical appraisal. Most studies were from North America (60%) and were conducted at 146 different hydropower dams/facilities. Meta-analysis included 268 datasets from 58 studies, separated into three analyses based on replication type [temporal (within or between year replication) or spatial]. Fish abundance (226 datasets) and biomass (30 datasets) had variable responses to changes in flow magnitude with estimated overall mean effect sizes ranging from positive to negative and varying by study design and taxa. In studies with temporal replication, we found a detectable effect of alterations to the direction of flow magnitude, the presence of other flow components, sampling methods, season, and fish life stage. However, we found no detectable effect of these moderators for studies with spatial replication. Taxonomic analyses indicated variable responses to changes in flow magnitude and a bias towards salmonid species. Conclusions This synthesis did not find consistent patterns in fish abundance or biomass responses to alterations or changes in flow magnitude. Fish responses to flow magnitude alterations or changes were highly variable and context dependent. Our synthesis suggests that biotic responses may not be generalizable across systems impacted by hydroelectric power production and operations, where specific features of the system may be highly influential. Site-specific and adaptive management may be necessary. To improve study validity and interpretability, studies with long-term continuous monitoring, and both temporal and spatial replication are needed. When this gold standard is unfeasible, studies should strive, at minimum, to maximize replication within both intervention and comparator groups for either temporal or spatial designs. To further address knowledge gaps, studies are needed that focus on non-salmonids, multiple seasons, and systems outside of North America.

Gaining mechanistic insight into the microbiological and immunological factors that are associated with spontaneous preterm birth is important for the development of prevention strategies. Here authors show that the complement system in conjunction with specific vaginal microbial and associated immunological changes are contributing to this condition.

A seminal report by Peter H. Pearse (1988; Rising to the Challenge: A New Policy for Canada’s Freshwater Fisheries, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ottawa) outlined 62 policy recommendations focused on the management of Canada’s inland fisheries. Over three decades later, freshwater ecosystems and inland fisheries in Canada are still facing similar challenges with many emerging ones that could not have been foreseen. Here, we reflect on the contemporary relevance of the Pearse Report and propose recommendations that policy makers should consider. Broadly, our recommendations are: (1) manage fishes, fisheries, and habitat using a holistic co-management framework, with clearly defined fishery jurisdictions and partnerships with Indigenous governments; (2) engage in transparent, inclusive, and agile research to support decision-making; (3) facilitate knowledge co-production, involving interdisciplinary projects with diverse groups of actors and sectors including Indigenous Peoples, anglers, policy makers, scientists/researchers, governments, and the public; (4) embrace technological advances to support freshwater fisheries stock assessment and management; and (5) align policy and management activities in Canada with global initiatives related to increasing the sustainability of inland fisheries. We advocate for an updated comprehensive report such as the Pearse Report to ensure that we embrace robust, inclusive, and sustainable management strategies and policies for Canada’s inland fisheries for the next 30 years. It is time to again rise to the challenge.

Abstract Background Emerging evidence supports an association between vaginal microbiota composition and risk of miscarriage; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We aim to investigate the vaginal microbial composition and the local immune response in chromosomally normal and abnormal miscarriages and compare this to uncomplicated pregnancies delivering at term. Methods We used 16S rRNA gene based metataxonomics to interrogate the vaginal microbiota in a cohort of 167 women, 93 miscarriages (54 euploid and 39 aneuploid using molecular cytogenetics) and 74 women who delivered at term and correlate this with the aneuploidy status of the miscarriages. We also measured the concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-10 in cervical vaginal fluid. Results We show that euploid miscarriage is associated with a significantly higher prevalence of Lactobacillus spp. deplete vaginal microbial communities compared to aneuploid miscarriage (P = 0.01). Integration of matched cervicovaginal fluid immune-profiles showed that Lactobacillus spp. depleted vaginal microbiota associated with pro-inflammatory cytokine levels most strongly in euploid miscarriage compared to viable term pregnancy (IL-1β; P < 0.001, IL-8; P = 0.01, IL-6; P < 0.001). Conclusions Our data suggest the vaginal microbiota plays an important aetiological role in euploid miscarriage and may represent a target to modify risk of pregnancy loss.

American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) were used as a case study to assess whether Ontario’s Endangered Species Act proponent-driven regulatory approach resulted in successful imperilled species management outcomes. American Eel observation databases and proponent-prepared mitigation plans and monitoring data were used to assess whether: (i) facilities within the distribution range were registered, (ii) effects monitoring protocols were adequate to evaluate adverse effects of facilities, (iii) proponents implemented mitigation actions that followed best management practices (BMPs), and (iv) effectiveness monitoring designs were adequate to evaluate effectiveness of mitigation actions. Less than half of the facilities (8 of 17) within the extant species range were registered. Few eels were observed at each facility, precluding proponents from effectively evaluating the facilities’ effects. Mitigation actions following BMPs were only implemented for eel out-migration at three facilities. Half of the registered facilities implemented effectiveness monitoring, but experimental designs did not follow best practices and standards. To improve this proponent-driven approach, regulators could reduce ambiguity in regulation language and provide clearer, quantitative requirements for facility registration, effects monitoring, mitigation actions, and effectiveness monitoring. Proponents could improve monitoring efforts to establish species occurrence and generate baseline data to measure facility effects and mitigation action effectiveness.

Given its extensive volume and reach, social media has the potential to widely spread conservation messaging and be a powerful tool to mobilize social change for conserving biodiversity. We synthesized gray and primary academic literature to investigate the effects of social media on wildlife conservation, revealing several overarching benefits and risks. We found that social media can increase pro-conservation behaviours among the public, increase conservation funding, and incite policy changes. Conversely, social media can contribute to species exploitation and illegal trade, cause unprecedented increases in tourism in protected areas, and perpetuate anti-conservation behaviours via misinformation. In most cases, we found that content sharing on social media did not result in a detectable impact on conservation; in this paper, however, we focus on providing examples where conservation impact was achieved. We relate these positive and negative outcomes of social media to psychological phenomena that may influence conservation efforts and discuss limitations of our findings. We conclude with recommendations of best practices to social media administrators, public social media users, nongovernmental organizations, and governing agencies to minimize conservation risks while maximizing beneficial outcomes. By improving messaging, policing online misconduct, and providing guidance for action, social media can help achieve wildlife conservation goals.

BackgroundThe impact of COVID-19 virus on menstrual cycles in unvaccinated women is limited.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of changes to menstrual cycle characteristics, hormonal symptoms and lifestyle changes prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA retrospective online cross-sectional survey completed by social media users between July 2020 to October 2020. Participants were living in the United Kingdom (UK), premenopausal status and, or over 18 years of age.Main outcome(s) and measures(s)The primary outcome was to assess changes to menstrual cycle characteristics during the pandemic following the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). Secondary outcomes included assessment of hormonal and lifestyle changes.Results15,611 social media users completed the survey. Of which, 75% of participants experienced a change in their menstrual cycle, with significantly greater proportions reporting irregular menstrual cycles (PConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in considerable variation in menstrual cycle characteristics and hormonal symptoms. This appears to be related to societal and lifestyle changes resulting from the pandemic, rather than to the virus itself. We believe this may have an impact on the individual, as well as national economy, healthcare, and population levels, and therefore suggest this should be taken into consideration by governments, healthcare providers and employers when developing pandemic recovery plans.

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, sexual, and psychological violence, aggression, and/or stalking, impacts overall health and can have lasting mental and physical health consequences. Substance misuse is common among individuals exposed to IPV, and IPV-exposed women (IPV-EW) are at-risk for transitioning from substance misuse to substance use disorder (SUD) and demonstrate greater SUD symptom severity; this too can have lasting mental and physical health consequences. Moreover, brain injury is highly prevalent in IPV-EW and is also associated with risk of substance misuse and SUD. Substance misuse, mental health diagnoses, and brain injury, which are highly comorbid, can increase risk of revictimization. Determining the interaction between these factors on the health outcomes and quality of life of IPV-EW remains a critical need. This narrative review uses a multidisciplinary perspective to foster further discussion and research in this area by examining how substance use patterns can cloud identification of and treatment for brain injury and IPV. We draw on past research and the knowledge of our multidisciplinary team of researchers to provide recommendations to facilitate access to resources and treatment strategies and highlight intervention strategies capable of addressing the varied and complex needs of IPV-EW.

Selection of forage and habitats is driven by nutritional needs of individuals. Some species may sacrifice nutritional quality of forage for the mother in favor of safety of offspring (risk-averse strategy), immediately following parturition. We studied diet quality and forage selection by bighorn sheep before and following parturition to determine how nutritional demands associated with rearing offspring influenced forage acquisition. We used desert bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni, to investigate that potential tradeoff. We captured and radio-collared female bighorn sheep from 2016 to 2018. We used vaginal implant transmitters (VIT)s in pregnant females to identify parturition and to capture and radio-collar neonates to monitor survival of young. We collected fecal samples throughout the breeding season and throughout the year to understand diet quality and composition throughout those temporal periods. We determined diet quality and composition for pre-parturient females, females provisioning offspring, females that lost offspring, and non-pregnant individuals using fecal nitrogen and DNA metabarcoding analyses. Additionally, we compared the diet quality and composition of offspring and adult females during the spring, as well as summer and winter months. Our results indicated differences in diet quality between individuals provisioning offspring and those whose offspring had died. Females that were provisioning dependent young had lower quality diets than those that lost their offspring. Diet composition among those groups was also markedly different; females that had lost an offspring had a more diverse diet than did females with dependent young. Diet quality differed among seasons, wherein offspring and adult females had higher quality diets during the spring months, with decreasing quality as the year progressed. Diet diversity was similar across seasons, although spring months tended to be most diverse. Our results support tradeoffs associated with risk-averse strategies made by adult females associated with parturition. Nutritional quality of forage was linked to provisioning status, indicating that females were trading diet quality for safety of offspring, but those females whose offspring had died selected high quality forages. Those results help explain habitat selection observed in mountain ungulates around parturition and provide further insight into the evolutionary processes and adaptive significance exhibited by those specialized artiodactyls.

Abstract Vaginal microbiota-host interactions are linked to preterm birth (PTB), which continues to be the primary cause of global childhood mortality. Due to population size, the majority of PTB occurs in Asia, yet there have been few studies of the pregnancy vaginal microbiota in Asian populations. Here, we characterized the vaginal microbiome of 2689 pregnant Chinese women using metataxonomics and in a subset (n = 819), the relationship between vaginal microbiota composition, sialidase activity and leukocyte presence and pregnancy outcomes. Vaginal microbiota were most frequently dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus or L. iners, with the latter associated with vaginal leukocyte presence. Women with high sialidase activity were enriched for bacterial vaginosis-associated genera including Gardnerella, Atopobium and Prevotella. Vaginal microbiota composition, high sialidase activity and/or leukocyte presence was not associated with PTB risk suggesting underlying differences in the vaginal microbiota and/or host immune responses of Chinese women, possibly accounting for low PTB rates in this population.

Abstract Background Vaginal microbiota (VMB) composition is altered in women with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) compared to healthy controls and is associated with disease progression. However, the impact of CIN excision on the VMB and innate immunity is not known. This observational study aims to explore the impact of CIN excision on the VMB, antimicrobial peptides (AMP) and proinflammatory cytokines. Methods We sampled 103 non-pregnant, premenopausal women at the time of excisional treatment for CIN and at their 6-month follow-up visit. A further 39 untreated controls with normal cytology were also sampled. We used metataxonomics to group vaginal swab samples into community state types (CSTs) and ELISA to quantify cytokine and AMP levels in matched vaginal secretions. Analyses were performed to compare the bacterial composition and immune analyte levels before and after CIN excision and in healthy controls. Results Women with CIN had significantly higher rates of Lactobacillus species depletion pre-treatment compared to healthy controls (CST IV 21/103, 20% vs 1/39, 3%, p = 0.0081). Excision did not change the VMB composition, with CST IV remaining significantly more prevalent after excision compared to untreated, healthy controls (CST IV 19/103, 20% vs 1/39, 3%, p = 0.0142). Prevotella bivia and Sneathia amnii were significantly higher in samples before treatment compared to untreated controls, and Prevotella bivia remained significantly higher amongst the treated, with less Lactobacillus crispatus compared to untreated controls. IL-1β and IL-8 remained significantly elevated pre- (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0014, respectively) and post-treatment (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0035, respectively) compared to untreated controls. Levels of human beta-defensin-1 and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor were both significantly reduced following CIN excision (p < 0.0001); however, their levels remained lower than controls post-treatment. Conclusions Women with CIN have an increased prevalence of Lactobacillus sp. depletion, high-diversity VMB composition, and higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines and AMPs compared to normal controls. Surgical excision of the disease reduces levels of vaginal AMPs but does not alter VMB composition or cytokine levels. These findings suggest that women with CIN have an inherent predisposition to a high-diversity proinflammatory environment that is not corrected by disease excision. The failure to re-establish a Lactobacillus-enriched CST may explain why women remain at high risk of pre-invasive and invasive disease recurrence.

Abstract Aims Membrane‐bound angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE)2 is the main cellular access point for SARS‐CoV‐2, but its expression and the effect of ACE inhibition have not been assessed quantitatively in patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to characterize membrane‐bound ACE2 expression in the myocardium and myocardial vasculature in patients undergoing heart transplantation and to assess the effect of pharmacological ACE inhibition. Methods and results Left ventricular (LV) tissue was obtained from 36 explanted human hearts from patients undergoing heart transplantation. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies directed against ACE2 co‐registered with cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and α‐smooth muscle cell actin (SMA) was performed across the entire cohort. ACE2 receptor expression was quantitatively assessed throughout the myocardium and vasculature. ACE2 was consistently expressed throughout the LV myocardium (28.3% ± 22.2% of cardiomyocytes). ACE2 expression was also detected in small calibre blood vessels (range, 2–9 μm), albeit at quantitatively much lower levels (5% ± 9% of blood vessels). There was no significant difference in ACE2 expression between patients receiving ACE inhibitors prior to transplantation and ACE inhibitor‐negative controls (P > 0.05). ACE2 expression did not differ significantly between the different diagnostic groups as the underlying reason for heart transplantation (ANOVA > 0.05). N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) (R2 = 0.37, P = 0.0006) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (R2 = 0.13, P = 0.043) assessed by right heart catheterization were significantly correlated with greater ACE2 expression in cardiomyocytes. Conclusions These data provide a comprehensive characterization of membrane‐bound cardiac ACE2 expression in patients with heart failure with no demonstrable effect exerted by ACE inhibitors.

Here, the authors apply DESI-MS, a sample preparation-free, direct on-swab mass spectrometry analytical tool, to profile the cervicovaginal metabolome of two independent cohorts of pregnant women and, combined with matched metataxonomic and immuno-profiling data, show that DESI-MS predicts vaginal microbiota composition and local inflammatory status associated with preterm birth and clinical interventions used during pregnancy.

BackgroundPrematurity is the leading cause of childhood death under the age of five. The aetiology of preterm birth is multifactorial; however, inflammation and infection are the most common causal factors, supporting a potential role for immunomodulation as a therapeutic strategy. 15-Deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2) is an anti-inflammatory prostaglandin and has been shown to delay lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm labour in mice and improve pup survival. This study explores the immunomodulatory effect of 15dPGJ2 on the transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and contraction associated proteins in human cultured myocytes, vaginal epithelial cell line (VECs) and primary amnion epithelial cells (AECs).MethodsCells were pre-incubated with 32µM of 15dPGJ2 and stimulated with 1ng/mL of IL-1β as an in vitro model of inflammation. Western immunoblotting was used to detect phosphorylated p-65 and phosphorylated c-Jun as markers of NF-κB and AP-1 activation, respectively. mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α was examined, and protein expression of COX-2 and PGE2 were detected by western immunoblotting and ELISA respectively. Myometrial contractility was examined ex-vivo using a myograph.Results15dPGJ2 inhibited IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1, and expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, COX-2 and PGE2 in myocytes, with no effect on myometrial contractility or cell viability. Despite inhibiting IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB, expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, 15dPGJ2 led to activation of AP-1, increased production of PGE2 and increased cell death in VECs and AECs.ConclusionWe conclude that 15dPGJ2 has differential effects on inflammatory modulation depending on cell type and is therefore unlikely to be a useful therapeutic agent for the prevention of preterm birth.

Abstract Finding ways of efficiently monitoring threatened species can be critical to effective conservation. The global proliferation of community science (also called citizen science) programs, like iNaturalist, presents a potential alternative or complement to conventional threatened species monitoring. Using a case study of ~700,000 observations of >10,000 IUCN Red List Threatened species within iNaturalist observations, we illustrate the potential risks and rewards of using community science to monitor threatened species. Poor data quality and risks of sending untrained volunteers to sample species that are sensitive to disturbance or harvesting are key barriers to overcome. Yet community science can expand the breadth of monitoring at little extra cost, while indirectly benefiting conservation through outreach and education. We conclude with a list of actionable recommendations to further mitigate the risks and capitalize on the rewards of community science as a threatened species monitoring tool.

Abstract Conservation budgets are limited, requiring strategic prioritization among actions to efficiently protect species. Systematic prioritization approaches typically determine locations for conservation that most effectively balance species protection with cost. Proxies for cost are frequently used in prioritizing land for protection. Here, we combine financial cost estimates for private land acquisition and species habitat models into a spatial prioritization to explore cost‐effective habitat protection, using a case study of species at risk in Ontario, Canada. Our findings suggest a key trade‐off, whereby protecting the areas with the greatest concentration of species at risk may not be the best strategy for protecting these species. Instead, protecting species at risk may be most cost effective in areas where species‐at‐risk richness is still relatively high, but land costs are relatively low, such as in central Ontario. However, the budget required to adequately protect species at risk through land purchase would be much larger than is currently available for conservation efforts, even if public lands are preferentially protected. Therefore, to effectively protect all species at risk in Ontario, we recommend the use of alternative conservation measures, such as easements and incentives for restoration on private land, to supplement already protected areas.

Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (AChE and BChE) are involved in modulating cholinergic signaling, but their roles in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases (AD and PD) remain unclear. We identified a higher frequency of the functionally impaired BCHE-K variant (rs1803274) in AD and PD compared to controls and lower than in the GTEx dataset of healthy individuals (n = 651); in comparison, the prevalence of the 5′-UTR (rs1126680) and intron 2 (rs55781031) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of BCHE and ACHE’s 3′-UTR (rs17228616) which disrupt AChE mRNA targeting by miR-608 remained unchanged. qPCR validations confirmed lower levels of the dominant splice variant encoding the “synaptic” membrane-bound ACHE-S in human post-mortem superior temporal gyrus samples from AD and in substantia nigra (but not amygdala) samples from PD patients (n = 79, n = 67) compared to controls, potentially reflecting region-specific loss of cholinergic neurons. In contradistinction, the non-dominant “readthrough” AChE-R mRNA variant encoding for soluble AChE was elevated (p < 0.05) in the AD superior temporal gyrus and the PD amygdala, but not in the neuron-deprived substantia nigra. Elevated levels of BChE (p < 0.001) were seen in AD superior temporal gyrus. Finally, all three ACHE splice variants, AChE-S, AChE-R, and N-extended AChE, were elevated in cholinergic-differentiated human neuroblastoma cells, with exposure to the oxidative stress agent paraquat strongly downregulating AChE-S and BChE, inverse to their upregulation under exposure to the antioxidant simvastatin. The multi-leveled changes in cholinesterase balance highlight the role of post-transcriptional regulation in neurodegeneration. (235)

Despite extensive research toward the development of point‐of‐care nucleic acid tests (POC NATs) for the detection of microRNAs (miRs) from liquid biopsies, major hurdles remain including the strict requirement for extensive off‐chip sample preprocessing. Herein, a nucleic acid lateral flow test (NALFT) is reported on that enables the direct detection of endogenous miRs from as little as 3 μL of plasma without the requirement for any enzyme‐catalyzed target amplification or complex miR extraction steps. This is achieved through integration of a denaturing hydrogel composite material onto the LFT, allowing for near‐instantaneous on‐chip release of miRs from their carriers (extracellular vesicles or transport proteins) prior to detection. This next‐generation LFT is sensitive enough to detect endogenous concentrations of miR‐150‐5p, a predictive biomarker for preterm birth (PTB) found deregulated in maternal blood from as early as 12th week of pregnancy. Herein, a key step is represented toward a first bedside test for risk‐stratification during pregnancy by predicting true outcome at a very early stage. More generally, the universal and versatile nature of this novel sample preprocessing platform can further improve the robustness of existing NALFTs and facilitate their application at the POC.

Background: Excess dietary salt consumption is a major contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Public education programs on the dangers of high salt intake, and population level interventions to reduce the salt content in foods are possible strategies to address this problem. In Jamaica, there are limited data on the levels of salt consumption and the population’s knowledge and practices with regards to salt consumption. This study therefore aims to obtain baseline data on salt consumption, salt content in foods sold in restaurants, and evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Jamaicans regarding salt consumption. Methods: The study is divided into four components. Component 1 will be a secondary analysis of data on urinary sodium from spot urine samples collected as part of a national survey, the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2016-2017. Component 2 will be a survey of chain and non-chain restaurants in Jamaica, to estimate the sodium content of foods sold in restaurants. Component 3 is another national survey, this time on a sample 1,200 individuals to obtain data on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding salt consumption and estimation of urinary sodium excretion. Component 4 is a validation study to assess the level of agreement between spot urine sodium estimates and 24-hour urinary sodium from 120 individuals from Component 3. Discussion: This study will provide important baseline data on salt consumption in Jamaica and will fulfil the first components of the World Health Organization SHAKE Technical Package for Salt Reduction. The findings will serve as a guide to Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness in the development of a national salt reduction program. Findings will also inform interventions to promote individual and population level sodium reduction strategies as the country seeks to achieve the national target of a 30% reduction in salt consumption by 2025.

Arctic low clouds and the water they contain influence the evolution of the Arctic system through their effects on radiative fluxes, boundary layer mixing, stability, turbulence, humidity, and precipitation. Atmospheric models struggle to accurately simulate the occurrence and properties of Arctic low clouds, stemming from errors in both the simulated atmospheric state and the dependence of cloud properties on the atmospheric state. Knowledge of the contributions from these two factors to the model errors allows for the isolation of the process contributions to the model–observation differences. We analyze the differences between the Arctic System Reanalysis version 2 (ASR) and data taken during the September 2014 Arctic Radiation–IceBridge Sea and Ice Experiment (ARISE) airborne campaign conducted over the Beaufort Sea. The results show that ASR produces less total and liquid cloud water than observed along the flight track and is unable to simulate observed large in-cloud water content. Contributing to this bias, ASR is warmer by nearly 1.5 K and drier by 0.06 g kg−1 (relative humidity 4.3 % lower) than observed. Moreover, ASR produces cloud water over a much narrower range of thermodynamic conditions than shown in ARISE observations. Analyzing the ARISE–ASR differences by thermodynamic conditions, our results indicate that the differences are primarily attributed to disagreements in the cloud–thermodynamic relationships and secondarily (but importantly) to differences in the occurrence frequency of thermodynamic regimes. The ratio of the factors is about 2/3 to 1/3. Substantial sampling uncertainties are found within low-likelihood atmospheric regimes; sampling noise cannot be ruled out as a cause of observation–model differences, despite large differences. Thus, an important lesson from this analysis is that when comparing in situ airborne data and model output, one should not restrict the comparison to flight-track-only model output.

Abstract Knowing the distribution of migratory species at different stages of their life cycle is necessary for their effective conservation. For the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), although its overwintering distribution is well known, the available information on premigration distribution is limited to the studies estimating the natal origins of overwintering Monarchs in Mexico (i.e., postmigration data). However, the premigration distribution and the natal origins of overwintering Monarchs can be equivalent only if we assume that migrating Monarchs have the same mortality rate irrespective of their origins. To estimate Monarchs’ premigration distribution, we used data reported by community scientists before Monarchs start their fall migration, that is, before migration mortality, and controlled for sampling bias. Our premigration distribution map indicated that Minnesota, Texas, and Ontario are the states/provinces with the highest abundance of Monarch in North America. Although this higher estimated abundance can be related to the large sizes of these states/provinces, this information is still important because it identifies the management jurisdictions with the largest responsibility for the conservation of the premigration population of Monarchs. Our premigration distribution map will be useful in future studies estimating the rates, distribution, and causes of mortality in migrating Monarchs.

In southern Africa, widespread agricultural fires produce substantial biomass burning (BB) emissions over the region. The seasonal smoke plumes associated with these emissions are then advected westward over the persistent stratocumulus cloud deck in the southeast Atlantic (SEA) Ocean, resulting in aerosol effects which vary with time and location. Much work has focused on the effects of these aerosol plumes, but previous studies have also described an elevated free tropospheric water vapor signal over the SEA. Water vapor influences climate in its own right, and it is especially important to consider atmospheric water vapor when quantifying aerosol–cloud interactions and aerosol radiative effects. Here we present airborne observations made during the NASA ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) campaign over the SEA Ocean. In observations collected from multiple independent instruments on the NASA P-3 aircraft (from near-surface to 6–7 km), we observe a strongly linear correlation between pollution indicators (carbon monoxide (CO) and aerosol loading) and atmospheric water vapor content, seen at all altitudes above the boundary layer. The focus of the current study is on the especially strong correlation observed during the ORACLES-2016 deployment (out of Walvis Bay, Namibia), but a similar relationship is also observed in the August 2017 and October 2018 ORACLES deployments. Using reanalyses from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2), and specialized WRF-Chem simulations, we trace the plume–vapor relationship to an initial humid, smoky continental source region, where it mixes with clean, dry upper tropospheric air and then is subjected to conditions of strong westward advection, namely the southern African easterly jet (AEJ-S). Our analysis indicates that air masses likely left the continent with the same relationship between water vapor and carbon monoxide as was observed by aircraft. This linear relationship developed over the continent due to daytime convection within a deep continental boundary layer (up to ∼5–6 km) and mixing with higher-altitude air, which resulted in fairly consistent vertical gradients in CO and water vapor, decreasing with altitude and varying in time, but this water vapor does not originate as a product of the BB combustion itself. Due to a combination of conditions and mixing between the smoky, moist continental boundary layer and the dry and fairly clean upper-troposphere air above (∼6 km), the smoky, humid air is transported by strong zonal winds and then advected over the SEA (to the ORACLES flight region) following largely isentropic trajectories. Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) back trajectories support this interpretation. This work thus gives insights into the conditions and processes which cause water vapor to covary with plume strength. Better understanding of this relationship, including how it varies spatially and temporally, is important to accurately quantify direct, semi-direct, and indirect aerosol effects over this region.

Abstract Bacteria use carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBPs), such as lectins and carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), to anchor to specific sugars on host surfaces. CBPs in the gut microbiome are well studied, but their roles in the vagina microbiome and involvement in sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer and preterm birth are largely unknown. We established a classification system for lectins and designed Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiles for data mining of bacterial genomes, resulting in identification of >100,000 predicted bacterial lectins available at unilectin.eu/bacteria. Genome screening of 90 isolates from 21 vaginal bacterial species shows that those associated with infection and inflammation produce a larger CBPs repertoire, thus enabling them to potentially bind a wider array of glycans in the vagina. Both the number of predicted bacterial CBPs and their specificities correlated with pathogenicity. This study provides new insights into potential mechanisms of colonisation by commensals and potential pathogens of the reproductive tract that underpin health and disease states.

Pyrrolysine (Pyl) exists in nature as the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, but studies of Pyl have been hindered by the difficulty and inefficiency of both its chemical and biological syntheses. Here, the authors developed an improved PANCE approach to evolve the pylBCD pathway for increased production of Pyl proteins in E. coli.

Atherosclerosis remains a major cause of death worldwide, with most myocardial infarctions being due to rupture or erosion of coronary plaques. Although several imaging modalities can identify features that confer risk, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rates attributable to each plaque are low, such that additional biomarkers are required to improve risk stratification at plaque and patient level. Coronary arteries are exposed to continual mechanical forces, and plaque rupture occurs when plaque structural stress (PSS) exceeds its mechanical strength. Prospective studies have shown that peak PSS is correlated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presentation, plaque rupture, and MACE, and provides additional prognostic information to imaging. In addition, PSS incorporates multiple variables, including plaque architecture, plaque material properties, and haemodynamic data into a defined solution, providing a more detailed overview of higher-risk lesions. We review the methods for calculation and determinants of PSS, imaging modalities used for modeling PSS, and idealized models that explore structural and geometric components that affect PSS. We also discuss current experimental and clinical data linking PSS to the natural history of coronary artery disease, and explore potential for refining treatment options and predicting future events.

Summary: Upon embryo implantation, the uterine mucosa - the endometrium - transforms into a robust decidual matrix that accommodates the fetal placenta throughout pregnancy. This transition is driven by the differentiation of endometrial fibroblasts into specialised decidual cells. A synchronised influx of circulating natural killer (NK) cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (BM-MSC) is pivotal for decidual homeostasis and expansion in early pregnancy. We hypothesise that pathological signals interfering with the recruitment or activity of extrauterine cells at the maternal-fetal interface link miscarriage to subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes, including further pregnancy losses and preterm labour. NK cells and BM-MSC are key homeostatic regulators in multiple tissues, pointing towards a shared aetiology between recurrent miscarriage and age-related disorders, including cardiometabolic disease. We propose the term ‘miscarriage syndrome’ to capture the health risks associated with miscarriage and discuss how this paradigm can inform clinical practice and accelerate the development of preventative strategies.

Abstract Many government organizations use recovery planning to synthesize threats, propose management strategies, and determine recovery criteria for threatened wildlife. Little is known about the extent to which physiological knowledge has been used in recovery planning, despite its potential to offer key biological information that could aid in recovery success. Using recovery strategies for at‐risk animal species in Canada as a case study, we analyzed the prevalence, purpose, and type of physiological knowledge being used in recovery planning. We found that 73% of strategies contained mention of physiology and that incorporation of physiology has increased since 2006. Of the various types of physiological tools available, reference to stress, immune, thermal, and bioenergetic metrics appeared most frequently. Physiological information was more likely to be found in the background and threat assessment sections compared to action and future research sections, and less likely to be included in strategies for arthropods and birds compared to other taxonomic groups. By synthesizing our results with previous studies, we provide recommendations to encourage the application of physiological tools in recovery planning worldwide, such as increased incorporation of physiology in ongoing threat monitoring, critical habitat assessments, monitoring the success of recovery actions, and modeling responses to future environmental changes.

Abstract Background Incretin therapies appear to provide cardioprotection and improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes, but the mechanism of this effect remains elusive. We have previously shown that glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 is a coronary vasodilator and we sought to investigate if this is an adenosine-mediated effect. Methods We recruited 41 patients having percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable angina and allocated them into four groups administering a specific study-related infusion following successful PCI: GLP-1 infusion (Group G) (n = 10); Placebo, normal saline infusion (Group P) (n = 11); GLP-1 + Theophylline infusion (Group GT) (n = 10); and Theophylline infusion (Group T) (n = 10). A pressure wire assessment of coronary distal pressure and flow velocity (thermodilution transit time—Tmn) at rest and hyperaemia was performed after PCI and repeated following the study infusion to derive basal and index of microvascular resistance (BMR and IMR). Results There were no significant differences in the demographics of patients recruited to our study. Most of the patients were not diabetic. GLP-1 caused significant reduction of resting Tmn that was not attenuated by theophylline: mean delta Tmn (SD) group G − 0.23 s (0.27) versus group GT − 0.18 s (0.37), p = 0.65. Theophylline alone (group T) did not significantly alter resting flow velocity compared to group GT: delta Tmn in group T 0.04 s (0.15), p = 0.30. The resulting decrease in BMR observed in group G persisted in group GT: − 20.83 mmHg s (24.54 vs. − 21.20 mmHg s (30.41), p = 0.97. GLP-1 did not increase circulating adenosine levels in group GT more than group T: delta median adenosine − 2.0 ng/ml (− 117.1, 14.8) versus − 0.5 ng/ml (− 19.6, 9.4); p = 0.60. Conclusion The vasodilatory effect of GLP-1 is not abolished by theophylline and GLP-1 does not increase adenosine levels, indicating an adenosine-independent mechanism of GLP-1 coronary vasodilatation. Trial registration: The local research ethics committee approved the study (National Research Ethics Service-NRES Committee, East of England): REC reference 14/EE/0018. The study was performed according to institutional guidelines, was registered on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (unique identifier: NCT03502083) and the study conformed to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Abstract Background Obesity and vaginal microbiome (VMB) dysbiosis are each risk factors for adverse reproductive and oncological health outcomes in women. Here, we investigated the relationship between obesity, vaginal bacterial composition, local inflammation and bariatric surgery. Methods Vaginal bacterial composition assessed by high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and local cytokine levels measured using a multiplexed Magnetic Luminex Screening Assay were compared between 67 obese and 42 non-obese women. We further assessed temporal changes in the microbiota and cytokines in a subset of 27 women who underwent bariatric surgery. Results The bacterial component of the vaginal microbiota in obese women was characterised by a lower prevalence of a Lactobacillus-dominant VMB and higher prevalence of a high diversity (Lactobacillus spp., and Gardnerella- spp. depleted) VMB, compared with non-obese subjects (p

Anna Uryga and Mandy Grootaert et al. combine cell culture and animal models to examine how senescence of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and persistent telomere damage drive inflammation. Their results suggest that telomere injury can be the primary cause of premature senescence in VSMCs, and that DNA damage can be a major cause of persistent inflammation in vascular disease.

Holocene climate reconstructions are useful for understanding the diverse features and spatial heterogeneity of past and future climate change. Here we present a database of western North American Holocene paleoclimate records. The database gathers paleoclimate time series from 184 terrestrial and marine sites, including 381 individual proxy records. The records span at least 4000 of the last 12 000 years (median duration of 10 725 years) and have been screened for resolution, chronologic control, and climate sensitivity. Records were included that reflect temperature, hydroclimate, or circulation features. The database is shared in the machine readable Linked Paleo Data (LiPD) format and includes geochronologic data for generating site-level time-uncertain ensembles. This publicly accessible and curated collection of proxy paleoclimate records will have wide research applications, including, for example, investigations of the primary features of ocean–atmospheric circulation along the eastern margin of the North Pacific and the latitudinal response of climate to orbital changes. The database is available for download at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12863843.v1 (Routson and McKay, 2020).

A checklist of 1246 extant, described species, classified in 346 genera in 18 families of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) are reported from Canada, Alaska (USA) and Greenland (Denmark) based on examined specimens and published records up to December 31, 2020. Of the reported species, 1214 (in 345 genera in 18 families) are listed from Canada, 113 (in 58 genera in 10 families) from Alaska, and 26 (in 22 genera in 4 families) from Greenland. The list includes 235 new species records and 53 new generic records for Canada (no new family records). Forty-one new species records, 22 new generic records and the families Chalcididae and Eurytomidae are newly reported for Alaska. No new records were found for Greenland. Two species (in one genus) of Mymarommatoidea are reported from Canada. For each species in Canada, distribution is tabulated by province or territory, except the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is divided into the island of Newfoundland and the region of Labrador. The inclusion of known species from Alaska and Greenland results in the first comprehensive distributional checklist for the entire northern part of the Nearctic region. A brief review of the history of cataloguing Chalcidoidea in North America and a comparison of this checklist with four published checklists from the Palaearctic region is provided.

The distribution of described, extant species of the insect order Hymenoptera recorded from northern North America will be published in a series of ten checklists. In total, 9250 species in 27 superfamilies and 84 families are recorded from Canada, the state of Alaska (USA) and Greenland (Denmark). Within northern North America, 8933 species are recorded in Canada (96.6% of the total species), Alaska has 1513 (16.4%) and Greenland has 205 (2.2%). Within Canada, Ontario is the province with the most species recorded (5322, 57.5% of all species in northern North America), followed by Quebec (4207, 45.5%) and British Columbia (4063, 43.9%). At the family level, Ontario has 82 of the 84 recorded families, Quebec has 76 and British Columbia has 71. The most species-rich superfamilies in northern North America are Ichneumonoidea (4438 species, 48.0% of the total); Apoidea (1438, 15.5%) and Chalcidoidea (1246, 13.5%). The largest families are Ichneumonidae (3201 species, 34.6% of the total), Braconidae (1237, 13.4%), Tenthredinidae (573, 6.2%), Eulophidae (379, 4.1%) and Pteromalidae (309, 3.3%). Overall species richness of the Hymenoptera in northern North America is compared with surveys in Russia, Germany, Finland and the British Isles.

A distributional checklist of the sawflies (Hymenoptera) of Canada, Alaska (USA) and Greenland (Denmark) is presented. In total, 758 extant, described species, classified in 113 genera in 12 families are recorded. Of these, 729 (in 113 genera in 12 families) are reported from Canada, 183 (in 48 genera in 8 families) from Alaska, and 7 (in 1 genus) from Greenland. The list includes 69 new species records and 5 new generic records for Canada and 29 new species records and 7 new generic records for Alaska. The family Xiphydriidae is also newly recorded from Alaska. No new records are reported from Greenland. Eighty-four new combinations are proposed for species of Nematinae (Tenthredinidae). Distributions are listed for all species, for those in Canada by province or territory, except the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is divided into the island of Newfoundland and the region of Labrador. This inventory is compared with previous Nearctic and Palaearctic surveys, checklists and catalogues.

Since the implementation of the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003, deficiencies in SARA and its application have become clear. Legislative and policy inconsistencies among responsible federal agencies and the use of a subjective approach for prioritizing species protection lead to taxonomic biases in protection. Variations in legislation among provinces/territories and the reluctance of the federal government to take actions make SARA’s application often inefficient on nonfederally managed lands. Ambiguous key terms (e.g., critical habitat) and disregard for legislated deadlines in many steps impede the efficacy of SARA. Additionally, the failure to fully recognize Indigenous knowledge and to seek Indigenous cooperation in the species protection process leads to weaker government accountability, promotes inequity, and leads to missed opportunities for partnerships. New legislative amendments with well-defined and standardized steps, including an automatic listing process, a systematic prioritization program, and clearer demands (e.g., mandatory threshold to trigger safety net/emergency order) would improve the success of species at risk protection. Moreover, a more inclusive approach that brings Indigenous representatives and independent scientists together is necessary for improving SARA’s effectiveness. These changes have the potential to transform SARA into a more powerful act towards protecting Canada’s at-risk wildlife. (The graphical abstract follows.)

Background Post–percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) fractional flow reserve ≥0.90 is an accepted marker of procedural success, and a cutoff of ≥0.95 has recently been proposed for post‐PCI instantaneous wave‐free ratio. However, stability of nonhyperemic pressure ratios (NHPRs) post‐PCI is not well characterized, and transient reactive submaximal hyperemia post‐PCI may affect their precision. We performed this study to assess stability and reproducibility of NHPRs post‐PCI. Methods and Results Fifty‐seven patients (age, 63.77±10.67 years; men, 71%) underwent hemodynamic assessment immediately post‐PCI and then after a recovery period of 10, 20, and 30 minutes and repeated at 3 months. Manual offline analysis was performed to derive resting and hyperemic pressure indexes (Pd/Pa resting pressure gradient, mathematically derived instantaneous wave‐free ratio, resting full cycle ratio, and fractional flow reserve) and microcirculatory resistances (basal microvascular resistance and index of microvascular resistance). Transient submaximal hyperemia occurring post‐PCI was demonstrated by longer thermodilution time at 30 minutes compared with immediately post‐PCI; mean difference of thermodilution time was 0.17 seconds (95% CI, 0.07–0.26 seconds; P=0.04). Basal microcirculatory resistance was also higher at 30 minutes than immediately post‐PCI; mean difference of basal microvascular resistance was 10.89 mm Hg.s (95% CI, 2.25–19.52 mm Hg.s; P=0.04). Despite this, group analysis confirmed no significant differences in the values of resting whole cycle pressure ratios (Pd/Pa and resting full cycle ratio) as well as diastolic pressure ratios (diastolic pressure ratio and mathematically derived instantaneous wave‐free ratio). Whole cardiac cycle NHPRs demonstrated the best overall stability post‐PCI, and 1 in 5 repeated diastolic NHPRs crossed the clinical decision threshold. Conclusions Whole cycle NHPRs demonstrate better reproducibility and clinical precision post‐PCI than diastolic NHPRs, possibly because of less perturbation from predominantly diastolic reactive hyperemia and left ventricular stunning. Registration URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03502083; Unique identifier: NCT03502083 and URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03076476; Unique identifier: NCT03076476.

Abstract Migratory connectivity describes the spatial linkage among migrating individuals through time. Accounting for it is necessary for full annual cycle conservation planning, to avoid uneven protection leading to overall population declines. However, conventional methods used to study migratory connectivity usually demand substantial fiscal and human resources. We present a methodology that infers patterns of migratory connectivity for songbirds using relative abundance models created from eBird, a global community science program. We compare our inferences with previously described patterns of migratory connectivity for two species assumed to exhibit broadscale parallel migration strategies: wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and Wilson's warbler (Cardellina pusilla). Initial findings suggest that our method has the potential to be a rapid and inexpensive way to infer broad patterns of connectivity for species that do not engage in leapfrog migration nor deviate much from parallel migration. Our flexible framework can be used to guide sampling designs for studies of migratory connectivity and to generate hypotheses for species in need of urgent conservation planning for which migratory connectivity has not yet been established.

Governments worldwide are releasing data into the public domain via open government data initiatives. Many such data sets are directly relevant to environmental science and complement data collected by academic researchers to address complex and challenging environmental problems. The Government of Canada is a leader in open data among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, generating and releasing troves of valuable research data. However, achieving comprehensive and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) open government data is not without its challenges. For example, identifying and understanding Canada’s international commitments, policies, and guidelines on open data can be daunting. Similarly, open data sets within the Government of Canada are spread across a diversity of repositories and portals, which may hinder their discoverability. We describe Canada’s federal initiatives promoting open government data, and outline where data sets of relevance to environmental science can be found. We summarize research data management challenges identified by the Government of Canada, plans to modernize the approach to open data for environmental science and best practices for data discoverability, access, and reuse.

In the southeast Atlantic, well-defined smoke plumes from Africa advect over marine boundary layer cloud decks; both are most extensive around September, when most of the smoke resides in the free troposphere. A framework is put forth for evaluating the performance of a range of global and regional atmospheric composition models against observations made during the NASA ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) airborne mission in September 2016. A strength of the comparison is a focus on the spatial distribution of a wider range of aerosol composition and optical properties than has been done previously. The sparse airborne observations are aggregated into approximately 2∘ grid boxes and into three vertical layers: 3–6 km, the layer from cloud top to 3 km, and the cloud-topped marine boundary layer. Simulated aerosol extensive properties suggest that the flight-day observations are reasonably representative of the regional monthly average, with systematic deviations of 30 % or less. Evaluation against observations indicates that all models have strengths and weaknesses, and there is no single model that is superior to all the others in all metrics evaluated. Whereas all six models typically place the top of the smoke layer within 0–500 m of the airborne lidar observations, the models tend to place the smoke layer bottom 300–1400 m lower than the observations. A spatial pattern emerges, in which most models underestimate the mean of most smoke quantities (black carbon, extinction, carbon monoxide) on the diagonal corridor between 16∘ S, 6∘ E, and 10∘ S, 0∘ E, in the 3–6 km layer, and overestimate them further south, closer to the coast, where less aerosol is present. Model representations of the above-cloud aerosol optical depth differ more widely. Most models overestimate the organic aerosol mass concentrations relative to those of black carbon, and with less skill, indicating model uncertainties in secondary organic aerosol processes. Regional-mean free-tropospheric model ambient single scattering albedos vary widely, between 0.83 and 0.93 compared with in situ dry measurements centered at 0.86, despite minimal impact of humidification on particulate scattering. The modeled ratios of the particulate extinction to the sum of the black carbon and organic aerosol mass concentrations (a mass extinction efficiency proxy) are typically too low and vary too little spatially, with significant inter-model differences. Most models overestimate the carbonaceous mass within the offshore boundary layer. Overall, the diversity in the model biases suggests that different model processes are responsible. The wide range of model optical properties requires further scrutiny because of their importance for radiative effect estimates.

How to best allocate limited resources for conserving imperilled species is a difficult challenge. Here the authors analyse data on over 2000 threatened species from USA, Australia, and New Zealand, finding that on average half of the budget is allocated to research and monitoring. Species with higher budget allocation to research and monitoring tend to have poorer recovery outcomes.

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are brain‐abundant RNAs of mostly unknown functions. To seek their roles in Parkinson's disease (PD), we generated an RNA sequencing resource of several brain region tissues from dozens of PD and control donors. In the healthy substantia nigra (SN), circRNAs accumulate in an age‐dependent manner, but in the PD SN this correlation is lost and the total number of circRNAs reduced. In contrast, the levels of circRNAs are increased in the other studied brain regions of PD patients. We also found circSLC8A1 to increase in the SN of PD individuals. CircSLC8A1 carries 7 binding sites for miR‐128 and is strongly bound to the microRNA effector protein Ago2. Indeed, RNA targets of miR‐128 are also increased in PD individuals, suggesting that circSLC8A1 regulates miR‐128 function and/or activity. CircSLC8A1 levels also increased in cultured cells exposed to the oxidative stress‐inducing agent paraquat but were decreased in cells treated with the neuroprotective antioxidant regulator drug Simvastatin. Together, our work links circSLC8A1 to oxidative stress‐related Parkinsonism and suggests further exploration of its molecular function in PD.

Designing distributed circuits that respond predictably to variation in bacterial populations remains difficult. Here the authors develop a two-strain circuit that senses and responds to the majority strain.

Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are used to test ecological theory and to direct targeted surveys for species of conservation concern. Several studies have tested for an influence of species traits on the predictive accuracy of SDMs. However, most used the same set of environmental predictors for all species and/or did not use truly independent data to test SDM accuracy. We built eight SDMs for each of 24 plant species of conservation concern, varying the environmental predictors included in each SDM version. We then measured the accuracy of each SDM using independent presence and absence data to calculate area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and true positive rate (TPR). We used generalized linear mixed models to test for a relationship between species traits and SDM accuracy, while accounting for variation in SDM performance that might be introduced by different predictor sets. All traits affected one or both SDM accuracy measures. Species with lighter seeds, animal‐dispersed seeds, and a higher density of occurrences had higher AUC and TPR than other species, all else being equal. Long‐lived woody species had higher AUC than herbaceous species, but lower TPR. These results support the hypothesis that the strength of species–environment correlations is affected by characteristics of species or their geographic distributions. However, because each species has multiple traits, and because AUC and TPR can be affected differently, there is no straightforward way to determine a priori which species will yield useful SDMs based on their traits. Most species yielded at least one useful SDM. Therefore, it is worthwhile to build and test SDMs for the purpose of finding new populations of plant species of conservation concern, regardless of these species’ traits.

owerful and well-implemented legislation is an important step towards the protection and recovery of species at risk of extinction (Ray and Ginsberg 1999; Schwartz 2008). For example, the U.S. Endangered Species Act, despite its flaws, has resulted in several species being saved from extinction (Evans et al. 2016). Although Canada has national legislation to protect species at risk and provide for their recovery (Species at Risk Act (2002), S.C. 2002, c. 29), this legislation generally only applies to lands that are under federal government jurisdiction, with the exception of emergency orders, which are rarely implemented. Since most land in Canada is under provincial jurisdiction, species protection often effectively falls under provincial species-at-risk legislation (Olive and McCune 2017).

Abstract Background Natural flow regimes are an essential component of healthy fluvial systems, but hydropower production alters flow components, disrupting natural processes and impacting species reliant on them. Establishing improved management of flow regimes requires a better understanding of how fish respond to altered flow components, such as flow magnitude. We recently conducted a systematic map to provide a summary of the existing literature base on the impacts of flow regime changes on direct outcomes of freshwater or estuarine fish productivity. Of those studies considering the impacts of flow magnitude changes due to hydropower, studies on fish abundance, biomass and diversity responses were identified as subtopics (i.e., knowledge clusters) that had sufficient coverage for further review. This systematic review proposes to estimate how fish abundance, biomass and diversity are affected by alterations in flow magnitude due to hydropower production. Methods This systematic review will use evidence identified during a systematic map process. An updated English language search will be performed using six bibliographic databases, Google Scholar, and networking tools to include academic and grey literature published after 2016. Eligibility screening will be conducted at two stages: (1) title and abstract, and (2) full-text. We will include all studies that evaluate the impact of changes to (or manipulations of) flow magnitude due to hydropower on fish abundance, density, biomass, yield, species richness, composition or diversity indices. The focus of this review will be on the downstream fluvial effects of flow magnitude changes and include hydroelectric facilities where water moves via gravity or by active pumping. Any freshwater or estuarine fish species or species group in temperate regions will be considered. Included eligible studies will undergo a critical appraisal that will assess the internal study validity. We will extract information on study characteristics, intervention/exposure and comparator details, measured outcomes, and effect modifiers. A narrative synthesis will describe the quantity and characteristics of available evidence, and where sufficient numbers of similar studies are available, meta-analysis will be conducted to estimate an overall mean and variance of effect.

Persistent infection with human papillomavirus can lead to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Here, the authors profile the vaginal microbiota in a cohort of non-pregnant young women diagnosed with CIN2 and find that absence of Lactobacillusspp. and presence of a diverse population of strict anaerobes associates with a decreased regression of untreated CIN2 lesions.