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High-resolution 3D seismic data analysis was integrated with a calibrated well and biostratigraphy data to present the first overview of a buried Pleistocene canyon system on the upper slope of the eastern Niger Delta, the Galabor Canyon. Attribute maps of specific horizons allow documenting the changing morphologies and infill lithologies of two main branches of the canyon through two stages of activity separated by a reference horizon dated at 0.99 Ma based on well calibration. At the upper slope, growth faults dissect the canyon heads, the catchment of which encroaches a network of valleys incised on the outer shelf. The canyon fill is composed of muddy channels and mass-transport deposits, largely derived from the collapse of canyon walls and sand-rich bodies forming a tract sourced by shelf-edge deltas at the outlet of the incised valleys. High-density turbiditic processes likely control the distribution of sand bodies along the canyon, ranging from tributary fans on the upper slope to 6 km-wide meander belts on the middle slope. The sandy deposits accumulate in minibasins formed along the canyon path, downstream of the subsiding hanging wall of the growth faults and upstream of shale ridges that damp the flow in the canyon. These results show that canyons can be major targets for sand reservoir exploration on the upper slope of large muddy deltas.

Objectives To describe the experiences of sexual health services available for adolescents aged 15–19 years on Reunion Island.Design A qualitative descriptive study was conducted from 3 December 2022 to 24 October 2023. Data were analysed using the phenomenological interpretative method.Setting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire of Reunion Island.Participants 15 participants were recruited through convenience sampling, but 3 of them did not attend the interviews.Interventions Face-to-face or videoconferencing open-ended individual interviews.Primary and secondary outcome measures Barriers and facilitators to access sexual health services, relationship between adolescents and healthcare professionals when using these services and suggestions made by adolescents for improving access to care and quality of care.Results In total, 12 adolescents were included with most being female (11 with a mean age of 18 years). Most interviewees were in a relationship, lived in urban areas and had sexual intercourse (nine, respectively). Participants attended high school, university and preparatory college (four, respectively). Most interviews were face to face (11). The mean duration of the interviews was 32 min. Two themes revealing the experiences of sexual health services emerged. Participants described maintaining sexual health as a difficult journey in their quest for information about sexual health and the available services provided. Participants demonstrated that they had the ability to cope with the consequences of unprotected sex.Conclusions To date, sexual health services available on Reunion Island may not meet the needs of adolescents. Implementation of a strategy aimed at providing young people with skills, addressing their needs and working with them in a collaborative manner may be necessary. Appropriate teaching methods and the training of healthcare professionals should also be considered.

BackgroundLittle is known about left ventricular (LV) sequences of contraction and electrical activation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A better understanding of the underlying relation between mechanical and electrical activation may allow the identification of predictive response criteria to right ventricular DDD pacing in obstructive patients.ObjectiveTo describe LV mechanical and electrical activation sequences in HCM patients compared to controls.Materials and methodsWe prospectively studied, in 40 HCM patients (20 obstructive and 20 non-obstructive) and 20 healthy controls: (1) mechanical activation using echocardiography at rest and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, (2) electrical activation using 3-dimensional electrocardiographic mapping (ECM).ResultsIn echocardiography, healthy controls had a physiological apex-to-base delay (ABD) during contraction (23.8 ± 16.2 ms). Among the 40 HCM patients, 18 HCM patients presented a loss of this ABD (

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to test if optic nerve head (ONH) myelin basic protein (MBP), 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) proteins are altered in non-human primate (NHP) early/moderate experimental glaucoma (EG).MethodsFollowing paraformaldehyde perfusion, control and EG eye ONH tissues from four NHPs were paraffin embedded and serially (5 µm) vertically sectioned. Anti-MBP, CNPase, GFAP, Iba1, and nuclear dye-stained sections were imaged using sub-saturating light intensities. Whole-section images were segmented creating anatomically consistent laminar (L) and retrolaminar (RL) regions/sub-regions. EG versus control eye intensity/pixel-cluster density data within L and two RL regions (RL1 [1-250 µm]/RL2 [251-500 µm] from L) were compared using random effects models within the statistical program "R."ResultsEG eye retinal nerve fiber loss ranged from 0% to 20%. EG eyes' MBP and CNPase intensity were decreased within the RL1 (MBP = 31.4%, P < 0.001; CNPase =62.3%, P < 0.001) and RL2 (MBP = 19.6%, P < 0.001; CNPase = 56.1%, P = 0.0004) regions. EG eye GFAP intensity was decreased in the L (41.6%, P < 0.001) and RL regions (26.7% for RL1, and 28.4% for RL2, both P < 0.001). Iba1+ and NucBlue pixel-cluster density were increased in the laminar (28.2%, P = 0.03 and 16.6%, P = 0.008) and both RL regions (RL1 = 37.3%, P = 0.01 and 23.7%, P = 0.0002; RL2 = 53.7%, P = 0.002 and 33.2%, P < 0.001).ConclusionsRetrolaminar myelin disruption occurs early in NHP EG and may be accompanied by laminar and retrolaminar decreases in astrocyte process labeling and increases in microglial/ macrophage density. The mechanistic and therapeutic implications of these findings warrant further study.

Abstract Erythroblastic sarcoma (ES) (previously called chloroma or granulocytic sarcoma) are rare hematological neoplams characterized by the proliferation of myeloid blasts at extramedullary sites, and primarily involve the skin and soft tissue of middle-aged adults. ES may be concomitant with or secondary to myeloid neoplasms (mostly acute myeloid leukemia (AML)) or in isolated cases (de novo) without infiltration of the bone marrow by blasts. ES share cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities with AML, including RUNX1T1 fusions. Some of these alterations seem to be correlated with particular sites of involvement. Herein, we report an isolated erythroblastic sarcoma with NFIA::RUNX1T1 located in the central nervous system (CNS) of a 3-year-old boy. Recently, two pediatric cases of CNS MS with complete molecular characterization have been documented. Like the current case, they concerned infants (2 and 3 years-old) presenting a brain tumor (pineal involvement) with leptomeningeal dissemination. Both cases also harbored a NFIA::RUNX1T3 fusion. ES constitutes a diagnostic challenge for neuropathologists because it does not express differentiation markers such as CD45, and may express CD99 which could be confused with CNS Ewing sarcoma. CD43 is the earliest pan-hematopoietic marker and CD45 is not expressed by erythroid lineage cells. E-cadherin (also a marker of erythroid precursors) and CD117 (expressed on the surface of erythroid lineage cells) constitute other immunhistochemical hallmarks of ES. The prognosis of patients with ES is similar to that of other patients with AML but de novo forms seem to have a poorer prognosis, like the current case. To conclude, pediatric ES with NFIA::RUNX1T1/3 fusions seem to have a tropism for the CNS and thus constitute a potential pitfall for neuropathologists. Due to the absence of circulating blasts and a DNA-methylation signature, the diagnosis must currently be made by highlighting the translocation and expression of erythroid markers.

Since the Second World War, Italy has experienced major demographic changes, including increasing survival, decreasing fertility and higher rates of immigration. These changes have silently and slowly led to important shifts in the structure and the territorial distribution of the population. Thus, like in many other European countries, population ageing and depopulation have become the most relevant demographic phenomena in Italy. In this paper, we studied the relationship between depopulation and ageing in Italian territories in the 1971–2019 period using the census data of the Italian municipalities and applying spatial techniques. We found that high levels of depopulation later result in high levels of population ageing, and that recent population ageing processes are also connected to ongoing depopulation processes, thereby creating a vicious circle.

The geotectonic environment of Central America provides the region with a high potential for harnessing geothermal energy, however, the use of this energy source continues to be scarce due to a variety of factors, including limited access to exploration-oriented resources. It is therefore a priority to generate information that facilitates the preliminary stages of geothermal projects in order to achieve a greater contribution of available renewable sources to the energy matrix. In this study, the MaxEnt model was employed to predict locations with geothermal potential in Honduras. The model incorporated the coordinates of 177 surface manifestations and utilized various predictors, including the distribution of volcanoes, geological formations, faults, aquifers, and surface temperature. These predictors were disaggregated into 23 environmental variables. A map with an adequate prediction precision (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve = 0.868) was generated, showing that except for the eastern central region of Honduras, the country has a significant prevalence of surface with high and very high probability of occurrence of geothermal manifestations. Among the variables analyzed, the occurrence of geothermal manifestations can be primarily attributed to the proximity to volcanoes in the region.

Understanding the thermal behavior of lakes is crucial for water quality management. Under climate change, lakes are warming and undergoing alterations in their thermal structure, including surface water and deepwater temperatures. These changes require continuous monitoring due to the possible major ecological implications for water quality and lake processes. We combined numerical modeling and satellite thermal data to create a regional dataset (LakeTSim: Lake Temperature Simulations) of long-term water temperatures for 401 French lakes in order to tackle the scarcity of in situ water temperature (Sharaf et al., 2023; https://doi.org/10.57745/OF9WXR). The dataset consists of daily epilimnion and hypolimnion water temperatures for the period 1959–2020 simulated with the semi-empirical OKPLM (Ottosson–Kettle–Prats Lake Model) and the associated uncertainties. Here, we describe the model and its performance. Additionally, we present an uncertainty analysis of simulations with default parameter values (parameterized as a function of lake characteristics) and calibrated parameter values along with the analysis of the sensitivity of the model to parameter values and biases in the input data. Overall, the 90 % confidence uncertainty range is largest for hypolimnion temperature simulations, with medians of 8.5 and 2.32 ∘C, respectively, with default and calibrated parameter values. There is less uncertainty associated with epilimnion temperature simulations, with medians of 5.42 and 1.85 ∘C, respectively, before and after parameter calibration. This dataset provides over 6 decades of epilimnion and hypolimnion temperature data crucial for climate change studies at a regional scale. It will help provide insight into the thermal functioning of French lakes and can be used to help decision-making and stakeholders.

Abstract Background Climate change has accelerated the occurrence and severity of heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and poses a significant threat to the octocoral species that form the foundation of marine animal forests (MAFs). As coral health intricately relies on the symbiotic relationships established between corals and microbial communities, our goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the role of bacteria in the observed tissue loss of key octocoral species following the unprecedented heatwaves in 2022. Results Using amplicon sequencing and taxon-specific qPCR analyses, we unexpectedly found that the absolute abundance of the major bacterial symbionts, Spirochaetaceae (C. rubrum) and Endozoicomonas (P. clavata), remained, in most cases, unchanged between colonies with 0% and 90% tissue loss. These results suggest that the impairment of coral health was not due to the loss of the main bacterial symbionts. However, we observed a significant increase in the total abundance of bacterial opportunists, including putative pathogens such as Vibrio, which was not evident when only their relative abundance was considered. In addition, there was no clear relation between bacterial symbiont loss and the intensity of thermal stress, suggesting that factors other than temperature may have influenced the differential response of octocoral microbiomes at different sampling sites. Conclusions Our results indicate that tissue loss in octocorals is not directly caused by the decline of the main bacterial symbionts but by the proliferation of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings thus underscore the significance of considering both relative and absolute quantification approaches when evaluating the impact of stressors on coral microbiome as the relative quantification does not accurately depict the actual changes in the microbiome. Consequently, this research enhances our comprehension of the intricate interplay between host organisms, their microbiomes, and environmental stressors, while offering valuable insights into the ecological implications of heatwaves on marine animal forests. Video Abstract

Periodically, the French West Indies receive dust originating from North Africa (NA). Microorganisms associated with desert dust can be transported over long distances through the atmosphere and could represent a means for the remote colonization of new habitats by putatively pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity and frequency of microbial agents (bacteria, eukaryotes) in NA dusts and the potential threat toward human and/or animal health by comparing microbial air composition during dust events and in control samples. In 2017 and 2018, 16 samples were collected during seven NA dust episodes and there were 9 controls. The microbial composition of the samples was characterized using a cultivable approach and by metabarcoding analyses (16S and 18S). A greater bacterial load and greater diversity were observed during the dust events, and some genera were significantly associated with the events. Some, such as Geodermatophilus, can be considered signature species of NA dust. No pathogenic species were found with the cultivable approach, whereas the metabarcoding analyses highlighted the presence of several potentially pathogenic species or known human pathogens such as Naegleria fowleri.

Ferroelectric strontium barium niobate (SrxBa1−xNb2O6 or SBN) is a material with high electro-optic (EO) response. It is currently of interest in low voltage silicon-integrated photonics (SiPh). We have grown strongly textured SBN films with x = 0.65 by radio frequency sputtering on (100)-oriented SrTiO3 substrates where grains with mixed (310) and (001) out-of-plane orientation form. For these mixed orientation films, we observed a maximum effective EO coefficient of 230 pm/V using a transmission EO measurement geometry that is responsive only to the in-plane polarization component coming from the (310)-oriented grains. We also demonstrate that by growing SBN on TiO2-terminated SrTiO3 substrates, we can obtain predominantly (001)-oriented SBN films with out-of-plane polarization. Transmission EO measurements on such (001)-oriented films show a reduced effective Pockels coefficient of 88 pm/V, which is consistent with the overall ferroelectric polarization becoming out-of-plane. This work shows that controlling substrate termination is effective in controlling the grain orientation of SBN films grown on top and that one can readily integrate SBN films on SrTiO3-buffered Si for use in SiPh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The professional development of online teachers is now commonplace in higher education. Alongside the relatively straightforward decision to provide professional learning support for novice and experienced online educators within universities, decisions about the nature and content of such support are not always as clear cut. The study aimed to gather evidence about the online teaching and learning experiences and views of current students and staff which, in turn, informed a set of pedagogical guidelines that could be used as the basis of professional learning programs for novice online teachers. Using a mixed methods research design, data were gathered using questionnaires, reflective journals, and focus groups to determine the threshold concepts about online teaching and perceptions of ideal online learning environments. As well as identifying threshold concepts about online teaching and perceptions of teachers' and students' ideal views of online learning contexts (reported elsewhere), the study produced curricular guidelines to inform the design of professional development outputs for online teachers in higher education. This article reports on an example of how these professional development guidelines, based on identified threshold concepts of online pedagogy, were implemented at one higher education institution to provide wide-scale implementation of a professional development program for academic staff engaged in online teaching.