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Mansonella ozzardi is a nematode belonging to the family Onchocercidae and the etiologic agent of human mansonellosis in the Caribbean and Central and South America (1). M. ozzardi adult worms [...]

This paper deals with the problem of optimising the network of a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) company, placing emphasis on the distinct characteristics of the 3PL environment. The goal is to minimise the warehousing and distribution costs for both forward and reverse product flows. A new Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) model is proposed to address this interesting problem. The related decisions include: selection of (a) warehouse(s) and the related product inventory quantities, (b) product unit loads transported, (c) truck combinations employed to perform the corresponding forward and reverse trips. The model was applied in a case study of a 3PL company to optimise part of its forward supply chain that comprises three warehouses, 23 suppliers and 53 customers. The results obtained were very encouraging, since overall warehousing and distribution costs were lowered by 10.8%. Sensitivity analysis indicated that additional savings may result from optimising warehousing capacities. The main contributions of this work are the inclusiveness of key aspects of the 3PL environment in the proposed model, as well as placing emphasis on warehousing costs and on management of truck capacities. A secondary contribution is the validation of the model's value through a comprehensive case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North Campus Open Space (NCOS) is a large-scale restored habitat in the historic Devereaux slough in Goleta, California. Forty-four plywood cover boards measuring 3’ x 4’ were dispersed across NCOS in four distinct habitats (grassland, woodland, coast sage scrubland, and marshland). For over 4 years, researchers have tracked the presence of animals under these coverboards, mostly small rodents and herpetofauna, following the area’s habitat restoration. Patterns of their distribution are increasingly understood as surveys continue; however, little is known about the patterns of invertebrate distribution and the factors influencing them. Invertebrates provide essential ecosystem functions as they break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, and they can serve as insightful bioindicators of ecosystem health. Previous studies documented that in agricultural systems, mean annual precipitation and soil pH are the largest predictors of soil invertebrate richness. In this study, we test whether these variables accurately predict patterns of invertebrate richness in a restored ecosystem. We focused on two diverse macroinvertebrate taxa, Coleoptera (beetles) and Arachnida (spiders). By collecting, curating, and identifying beetles and spiders under each coverboard we were able to establish what species reside in the various habitats. We took measurements of the soil pH under each board as well as the humidity in the interspace between the soil and the board as a proxy for mean annual precipitation. Our preliminary data suggest that soil pH and relative humidity partially contribute to the distribution of macroinvertebrates within habitats. However, other factors such as cohabitation, soil type, adjacent vegetation, or other factors involved in nutrient cycling, could have larger effects on the distribution patterns of these taxa.This poster was presented at the UCSB undergraduate research colloquium 2024.

Orthohantavirus is a genus of globally distributed RNA viruses in the family Hantaviridae. In the Americas, the viruses are hosted by native rodent species within the Cricetidae family (2). Although [...]

Scrub typhus is a leading cause of nonmalarial febrile illness in Southeast Asia (1). Scrub typhus is caused by miteborne Orentia tsutsugamushi infections, which until recently were thought to be [...]

In 2020, Canada's largest cluster of Bartonella quintana endocarditis, an infection caused by a louseborne bacterium, was detected among persons experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (1). Over a 6-month [...]

Biting midge-borne bluetongue virus (BTV), an Orbivirus of the Sedoreoviridae family, can cause epizootic disease in domestic and wild ruminants (2). Bluetongue (BT) is a World Organisation for Animal Health-listed [...]

Since the arrival of clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza A(H5N1) in North America in late 2021, frequent mammal spillover events have occurred in a diverse range of species, including 1 human [...]

The novel tickborne virus Alongshan virus (ALSV) belongs to the Jingmenvirus group of the Flaviviridae family and is associated with human febrile illness (2). Initially identified in tick-bitten patients and [...]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses pose a threat to wild birds and poultry globally, and HPAI H5N1 viruses are of even greater concern because of their frequent spillover into [...]

Rickettsioses are undifferentiated febrile illnesses, often accompanied by myalgia and rash, that are caused by intracellular gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. Spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia are transmitted through [...]

Since clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses first emerged in East Asia in 2013-14, clade 2.3.4.4b has spread throughout Europe, Africa, and Middle East in 2016-17, causing [...]

In animal social groups, the extent to which individuals consistently win agonistic interactions and their ability to monopolize resources represent 2 core aspects of their competitive regime. However, whether these two aspects are closely correlated within groups has rarely been studied. Here, we tested the hypothesis that hierarchy steepness, which is generally used to represent power differentials between group members, predicts the variation in the distribution of fitness-related benefits (i.e. fecundity, infant survival, mating success, and feeding success) in relation to individual dominance ranks. We tested this hypothesis in primate groups using comparative phylogenetic meta-analytical techniques. Specifically, we reviewed published and unpublished studies to extract data on individual dominance ranks, their access to fitness-related benefits, and hierarchy steepness. We collected and included in our analysis a total of 153 data points, representing 27 species (including 2 chimpanzee sub-species). From these, we used 4 common methods to measure individual dominance ranks and hierarchy steepness, i.e. D ij -based normalized Davids scores, randomized Elo-ratings, and Davids scores and Elo-ratings estimated in Bayesian frameworks. We found that hierarchy steepness had no effect on the strength of the relationship between dominance rank and access to fitness-related benefits. Our results suggest that hierarchy steepness does not reflect between-group variation in the extent to which individual dominance affects the acquisition of fitness-related benefits in primates. Although the ability to win agonistic encounters is essential, we speculate that other behavioral strategies adopted by individuals may play crucial roles in resource acquisition in animal competitive regimes.

Advertisement calls in frogs have evolved to be species-specific signals of recognition and are therefore considered an essential component of integrative taxonomic approaches to identify species and delineate their distribution range. The species rich genus Microhyla is a particularly challenging group for species identification, discovery and conservation management due to the small size, conserved morphology and wide distribution of its members, necessitating the need for a thorough description of their vocalization. In this study, we provide quantitative description of the vocal behaviour of Microhyla nilphamariensis, a widely distributed south Asian species, from Delhi, India, based on call recordings of 18 individuals and assessment of 21 call properties. Based on the properties measured acrossed 360 calls, we find that a typical advertisement call of M. nilphamariensis lasts for 393.5 ±  57.5 ms, has 17 pulses on average and produce pulses at rate of 39 pulses/s. The overall call dominant frequency was found to be 2.8 KHz and the call spectrum consisted of two dominant frequency peaks centered at 1.6 KHz and 3.6 KHz, ranging between 1.5-4.1 KHz. Apart from its typical advertisement call, our study also reveals the presence of three rare call types, previously unreported in this species. We describe variability in call properties and discuss their relation to body size and temperature. We found that overall dominant frequency 1 (spectral property) was found to be correlated with body size, while first pulse period (temporal property) was found to be correlated with temperature. Further, we compare the vocal repertoire of M. nilphamariensis with that of the congener Microhyla ornata from the western coast of India and Sri Lanka and also compare the call properties of these two populations of M. ornata to investigate intra-specific call variation. We find statistically significant differentiation in their acoustic repertoire in both cases. Based on 18 call properties (out of 20), individuals of each locality clearly segregate on PCA factor plane forming separate groups. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) using PCA factors shows 100% classification success with individuals of each locality getting classified to a discrete group. This confirms significant acoustic differentiation between these species as well as between geographically distant conspecifics. The data generated in this study will be useful for comparative bioacoustic analysis of Microhyla species and can be utilized to monitor populations and devise conservation management plan for threatened species in this group.

Societal Impact Statement: Conserving frankincense trees (Boswellia) is crucial for both ecological and socio‐economic reasons. Surveying these trees in the field and using remote sensing unmanned aerial vehicles in the Socotra Archipelago, we found that Socotran frankincense trees are threatened by forest fragmentation, overgrazing, and increasingly frequent extreme climate events. A better understanding of the distribution and the threats of these important insular species will improve the conservation policy of the local authorities and benefit local communities in the Socotra Archipelago. At the same time, this work serves as a good practice example to guide conservation efforts for other culturally important threatened tree species around the world, therefore helping to sustain local livelihoods, fostering ecological resilience, and supporting socio‐economic stability. Summary: Globally, frankincense trees (Burseraceae: Boswellia) are increasingly under threat because of habitat deterioration, climate impacts, and the olibanum trade. Despite harboring nearly half of the species in the genus, up‐to‐date insights are lacking for the insular endemic frankincense trees of the Socotra Archipelago UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site (Yemen).We combined georeferencing of individual trees in the field with remote sensing applying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to evaluate Boswellia distribution and (sub)population sizes in the entire Socotra Archipelago.We counted 17,253 trees across all 11 taxa and we surveyed almost 55% directly in the field, collecting individual information on threats and health indicators. We estimate that the current total population sizes of the relatively common Socotran Boswellia taxa (Boswellia elongata, Boswellia popoviana, and Boswellia ameero) consist of a few thousand mature individuals with fragmented distribution of which a large proportion occurs in highly disjunct relictual stands, while the more range‐restricted species survive only through a few hundred (Boswellia nana and Boswellia samhaensis) to fewer than a hundred trees (Boswellia scopulorum). Our field data show that the Socotran frankincense trees are threatened by fragmentation and overgrazing resulting in a lack of natural regeneration, in combination with effects of extreme climate events (e.g., higher frequency and intensity of cyclones and prolonged drought) and potential future infrastructure developments; the species are less impacted by resin collection.We provide recommendations to strategize urgent protection of the declining Socotran frankincense trees, and we update their conservation status, resulting in an endangered status for seven and a critically endangered status for four taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental contamination by plastics poses a significant threat to both fauna and flora, manifesting in lethal and sub-lethal effects. Plastics can enter coastal and marine environments through wind and rain, with microplastics (< 5 mm; MPs) arising from the degradation of larger plastics or being manufactured for commercial use. Despite Brazil's extensive coastline, data on microplastic contamination is scarce. This study aimed to assess microplastic pollution on a beach in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Samples were collected from 30 points along the high tide line, with beach sand processed through density separation and filtration. Microplastics were quantified using Nile Red stain under fluorescence microscopy and chemically identified via the µRaman technique. Results showed an average concentration of 650 MPs/kg of sediment, with higher concentrations near the Mampituba River, indicating a greater transport of plastic contaminants by the river to the coastline. The smallest particles (50–100 µm) were most abundant, and the predominant types of plastics identified were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyamide (PA). This study provides the first quantification of microplastic pollution in this region, indicating that the concentration and types of microplastics are consistent with findings elsewhere in Brazil and globally. These results highlight the widespread nature of microplastic pollution and underscore the need for coordinated environmental remediation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage pipes are important conduits for microplastics into the natural environment, but previous studies have paid little attention to the hydraulic characteristics of the confluence of pipe and channel, and the distribution of microplastics at the confluence. This study compared the effects of varying flow rates and particle sizes (Including 500 μm, 700 μm, and 900 μm) on microplastic migration and distribution at the confluence of pipe and channel using experimental measurements. The results obtained using flotation method indicate that flow proportions and particle sizes influence the capacity of flow to transport microplastics. Larger microplastic accumulation occurs in scour holes and separation zones characterized by lower flow velocities, while deposition decreases in acceleration zones characterized by higher flow velocities. Increasing the flow rate of the branch pipe influences the volume of each zone at the pipe-channel confluence. The elongated shape of the scour hole and the acceleration zone facilitate the downstream migration of microplastics. Moreover, the hydrophilic nature of microplastics increases after aging, and it is more likely to migrate to downstream with the water flow, making the downstream microplastics account for more proportion. These results provide valuable insights into the migration and distribution of microplastics at the confluence of pipe and channel, with practical implications for microplastic treatment strategies at these confluences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let pod ℓ (n) be the number of ℓ -regular partitions of n with distinct odd parts. In this article, we prove that for any positive integer k, the set of non-negative integers n for which pod ℓ (n) ≡ 0 (mod p k) has density one. We also exhibit several multiplicative identities for pod 3 (n) , pod 5 (n) and pod 7 (n) using the Hecke eigenforms, and some results of Ono, Robins, and Wahl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expressing distributions in Euclidean space in terms of spherical coordinates gives rise to an alternative class of continuous linear functionals, termed signumdistributions, acting on test functions showing a pointwise singularity at the origin. In this paper the theory of signumdistributions is further explored from the viewpoint of integral transforms, viz. the Fourier and Hilbert transforms, and the interplay between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-structure survey method was used to investigate the distribution status of Anthracoceros coronatus in Jinghong City, Menghai County and Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. According to the results of semi-structure survey, the sample line method was used to carry out further investigation and verification in the whole prefecture. The results showed that A.coronatus was distributed in 8 na Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the distributed altitude was 500-1 400 m. There were 7-8 species with a total number of (32±3). And A.corotownships or streets, Dadugang, Mengyang, Menglong, Mengman, Shangyong (Mohan), Mengla, Gadong and Bulangshan of Xishuangbannatus had the preference for tropical rain forest, tropical seasonal rain forest and subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We lack many quantitative data on the current distributions of several bear species, and hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying those distributions. We raise this point by discussing visual detections of Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in sampling from 14 September 2016 to 24 August 2017 in the Haramba Queros Wachiperi Ecological Reserve Conservation Concession in southeastern Peru, at 811–920 m above sea level, lower in elevation than >90% of known locations for this species on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes. Resumo No tenemos muchos datos cuantitativos sobre las distribuciones actuales de varias especies de osos, ni hipótesis sobre los mecanismos detrás de esas distribuciones. Ilustramos esto discutiendo unos registros visuales del oso andino (Tremarctos ornatus) durante foto trampeo del 14 septiembre 2016 al 24 agosto 2017 dentro de la Concesión para la Conservación Reserva Ecológica Haramba Queros Wachiperi, de elevaciones de 820–920 msnm, más bajos que 90% de los lugares conocidos para la especie en las laderas orientales de los Andes peruanos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Omura's whale was first described in 2003 and is currently listed as 'Data Deficient' on the IUCN Red List. Distributed globally in tropical waters, there remains an absence of knowledge on the species' behaviour and ecology, especially in Australian waters. This study utilised historic acoustic data to provide the first wide-scale investigation into Omura's whale distribution and seasonality around Australia, including any potential migratory movements they undertake. We identified the species' acoustic presence on the east coast of Australia for the first time and its seasonal presence on the west coast. Unlike most baleen whales which migrate between the poles and the equator annually with separated feeding and breeding grounds, the Omura's whale inhabits certain regions around Australia for all months of the year. Currently, the Omura's whale is not listed in any management or conservation policies in Australia so the description of when and where they are inhabiting will provide the first steps in developing these policies for the species in Australia, which is particularly important given that the identified distribution of the species crosses over with a lot of offshore industry operations. The Omura's whale (Balaenoptera omurai) is one of the most recently described species of baleen whale. Initially known only from stranding and whaling specimens, it has now been identified in all ocean basins excluding the central and eastern Pacific. Unlike most baleen whales that migrate between the poles and the equator seasonally, the Omura's whale is known to inhabit tropical to sub-tropical waters year-round. In Australian waters, there remain fewer than 30 confirmed visual sightings over the past decade. However, based on acoustic records, the Omura's whale has been detected off areas of the northwest coast of Australia year-round. This study utilises passive acoustic recordings from 41 locations around Australia from 2005 to 2023 to assess the distribution and seasonality of the Omura's whale. The seasonal presence of Omura's whale vocalisations varied by location, with higher presence at lower latitudes. Vocalisations were detected year-round in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf in the Timor Sea, and near Browse Island and Scott Reef, in the Kimberley region. In the Pilbara region, acoustic presence mostly peaked from February to April and no acoustic presence was consistently observed from July to September across all sites. The most southerly occurrence of Omura's whale vocalisations was recorded off the North West Cape in the Gascoyne region. Vocalisations similar but not identical to those of the Omura's whale were detected in the Great Barrier Reef. The identified seasonal distribution provides valuable information to assess environmental and anthropogenic pressures on the Omura's whale and to aid in creating management and conservation policies for the species in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D-Alanine, a rare enantiomer of alanine, can potentially alleviate the worsening of viral infections and maintain circadian rhythm. This study aimed to analyze the kinetics of D-Alanine upon oral intake. Five healthy volunteers were administered D-Alanine as a single oral dose at 11,236 or 33,708 µmoL (1–3 g). Upon intake of the lower dose, the plasma level of D-Alanine reached its peak concentration of 588.4 ± 40.9 µM with a peak time of 0.60 ± 0.06 h. The compartment model estimated the clearance of D-Alanine at 12.5 ± 0.3 L/h, or 208 ± 5 mL/min, distribution volume of 8.3 ± 0.7 L and half-life of 0.46 ± 0.04 h, suggesting a rapid clearance of D-Alanine. The peak concentration and area under the curve increased proportionally upon intake of the higher dose, while the clearance, distribution volume and half-life did not. The urinary ratio of D-Alanine per sum of D- and L-Alanine reached its peak of nearly 100%, followed by a slow decline. The peak time of the urinary ratio was 1.15 ± 0.15 h, showing a time lag of blood to urine excretion. Fractional excretion, a ratio of the clearance of a substance per a standard molecule in kidney, of D-Alanine increased from 14.0 ± 5.8% to 64.5 ± 10.3%; the latter corresponded to the urinary clearance of D-Alanine as about 77 mL/min for an adult, with a peak time of 1.90 ± 0.56 h. D-Alanine was quickly absorbed and appeared in blood, followed by urinary excretion. This kinetic analysis increases our fundamental knowledge of the oral intake of D-Alanine for the chronic dosing. Trial number: #UMIN000050865. Date of registration: 2023/6/30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive functional equations for distributions of six classical statistics (ascents, descents, left-to-right maxima, right-to-left maxima, left-to-right minima, and right-to-left minima) on separable and irreducible separable permutations. The equations are used to find a third degree equation for joint distribution of ascents and descents on separable permutations that generalizes the respective known result for the descent distribution. Moreover, our general functional equations allow us to derive explicitly (joint) distribution of any subset of maxima and minima statistics on irreducible, reducible and all separable permutations. In particular, there are two equivalence classes of distributions of a pair of maxima or minima statistics. Finally, we present three unimodality conjectures about distributions of statistics on separable permutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator has a widespread global distribution with a stable population and is considered a winter vagrant in South Asia. Since 2016, this species has been recorded six times from many states in India, prompting us to analyse the specimens of the species deposited in the Zoological Survey of India's National Zoological Collections. From historical collection records and present sighting trends, it can be assumed that the species might be regularly visiting wetlands in India but in scarce numbers, thereby either escaping from the attention of birders or misidentifying the individuals as common merganser in the Himalayan terai. The implication of the present study is an update to the checklist of birds in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the distribution, habitat association, morphometrics, meristics, and reproductive attributes of Amblyraja radiata over much of its Canadian range, Grand Banks to Arctic waters. It is distributed widely on the shelf and upper slope between 30 and 1288 m, reaching highest density in 100–400 m and occupying most available temperatures, between −1.0 and 8.8 °C, but concentrating in 1.6–3.5 °C. The maximum (and average) size decreases with increasing latitude in a continuum from 102 cm (55 cm) in the south, to 45 cm (20 cm) in the north. The proportion of mature fish increases with depth (40% at 0–50 m to 80% at 1150–1200 m) and temperature (35% at <0 °C to 55% at 5+ °C). The size at maturity decreases south to north; size at onset of maturity in males—43 (south) to 19 (north) cm, in females—49 to 23 cm; length at 50% maturity in males—74 to 44 cm, in females—66 to 40 cm. A. radiata maturity is also reflected in the rapid increase in the size of secondary sexual characteristics. Some meristics were consistent over the entire study area (spines near the spiracles and shoulders) while others varied with latitude (teeth rows, midline spines, spines near the eyes, % dorsal fins joined, spines between dorsal fins) or by fish length/maturity; the tail length/total length as a proportion of total length decreased during Stage 1 then increased at onset of maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella spp. (true morels) are precious edible mushrooms consumed around the world, with a delicious taste, rich nutritional value, and unique healthcare effects. Various fungi and bacteria have been reported to colonize the ascocarps of Morchella, damaging their fruiting bodies and leading to serious economic losses in cultivation. The species identification of these colonizing organisms is crucial for understanding their colonization mechanisms on morels. Slime molds, which have characteristics of both "fungi" and "animals", can occasionally colonize crops and edible fungi. However, there have been no reports of dictyostelid cellular slime molds (dictyostelids) colonizing plants and fungi to date. In this study, we discovered that dictyostelids colonized the surface of one wild ascoma of Morchella in the forest of Chongqing, China, with the tissues being black and rotten. Macro- and micro-morphological observations, along with molecular phylogenetic analyses, identified the specimens investigated in this study as Dictyostelium implicatum and Morchella sp. Mel-21. The results provide new knowledge of dictyostelid colonization on organisms and contribute to the diversity of species colonizing true morels. Moreover, this is also the first report of dictyostelids distributed in Chongqing, China. This study enhances our insights into the life history and potential ecological significance of dictyostelids and updates their distribution area in China. Further research will be conducted to uncover the mechanisms behind the colonization observed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquito-transmitted flavivirus with increasing incidence of human infection and geographic expansion, thus posing a potential threat to public health. In this study, we established a comprehensive spatiotemporal database encompassing USUV infections in vectors, animals, and humans worldwide by an extensive literature search. Based on this database, we characterized the geographic distribution and epidemiological features of USUV infections. By employing boosted regression tree (BRT) models, we projected the distributions of three main vectors (Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, and Culiseta longiareolata) and three main hosts (Turdus merula, Passer domesticus, and Ardea cinerea) to obtain the mosquito index and bird index. These indices were further incorporated as predictors into the USUV infection models. Through an ensemble learning model, we achieved a decent model performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.992. The mosquito index contributed significantly, with relative contributions estimated at 25.51%. Our estimations revealed a potential exposure area for USUV spanning 1.80 million km2 globally with approximately 1.04 billion people at risk. This can guide future surveillance efforts for USUV infections, especially for countries located within high-risk areas and those that have not yet conducted surveillance activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This proposed distribution is an outcome of mixing Generalised Poisson distribution of Consul and Jain with Polynomial-exponential distribution of Sah. The essential characteristics needed for sufficient analysis of this distribution have been defined as well as derived systematically. Two methods have been used to estimate parameter of this distribution. Comparing the theoretical frequency obtained using two methods with the theoretical frequency constructed by using Generalised Negative Binomial Distribution of Sah. The proposed distribution seems to be better alternative of generalised negative binomial distribution of Sah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐native species can spread rapidly through aquatic ecosystems in association with both natural and anthropogenic mechanisms, but the relative importance of these two mechanisms in determining the spread of a species is not always clear. The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has been introduced to multiple continents, including waterbodies in the United States where both natural and anthropogenic dispersal are likely to have contributed to its current distribution.The present study combined comparisons of historical and contemporary distributions of P. clarkii and several high conservation priority crayfish species, regional field sampling, and microsatellite‐based genetic approaches from the Pee Dee River basin in North Carolina and South Carolina to understand the dispersal patterns of P. clarkii and its potential effects on native crayfishes.Field sampling and microsatellite analyses revealed widespread populations of P. clarkii throughout the study area with catchment‐specific patterns of population genetic structure, wherein more distinct genetic structures were found in the basin with historic aquaculture activities and a longer period of occurrence.The rapid spread of P. clarkii has occurred concurrently with extirpations of populations of native crayfishes, namely the Waccamaw crayfish (Procambarus braswelli), the Carolina Sandhills crayfish (Procambarus pearsei) and the coastal plain crayfish (Procambarus ancylus).The rapid spread of P. clarkii and coincident extirpation of native crayfishes calls for more extensive regulatory controls to help prevent the intentional or accidental release of non‐native crayfishes through aquaculture practices, bait releases, the pet trade and the environmental education industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the distribution pattern of blood groups among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in North Karnataka. The analysis includes gender, age distribution, ABO blood groups, and Rh phenotypes. Understanding these patterns can help in better blood bank management and meet the needs of patients more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aficamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor, is being developed for the treatment of patients with symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The purpose of this study was to determine the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of aficamten. Eight healthy male participants received a single oral dose of 20 mg aficamten (containing approximately 100 μCi of radiocarbon). Blood, urine, and feces samples were collected up to a maximum of Day 26. The pharmacokinetics of aficamten were characterized by moderate absorption, with a median tmax of 2.0 h postdose. The median t1/2 of aficamten was 99.6 h with similar t1/2 observed for metabolites and total radioactivity in plasma and whole blood. The overall total recovery of administered total radioactivity was 89.7% with 57.7% of the dose recovered in feces and 32.0% in urine. The main circulating metabolites in plasma included monohydroxylated metabolites M1a (CK‐3834282) and M1b (CK‐3834283) accounting for 10.5% and 36.4% of the total radioactivity AUC both with a median tmax of 5 h. The other major plasma metabolite was M5 (an oxygen‐linked glucuronide conjugate of M1a), which accounted for 10.3% of the total plasma radioactivity exposure, with a tmax of 24 h. In urine, M5 was the most abundant metabolite with 8.02% total radioactive dose (TRD), followed by M1a and M1b with 6.16% and 2.85% TRD, respectively; however, there were no metabolites in urine observed at >10% of dose. The major metabolite in feces was M18 representing 44.1% of the radioactive dose. These findings indicated that aficamten was eliminated by metabolism, and to a minor extent, by fecal excretion of unchanged aficamten with renal excretion playing a minor role. Feces were the principal route of excretion of the radioactive dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthraquinones are polycyclic compounds with an unsaturated diketone structure (quinoid moiety). As important secondary metabolites of plants, anthraquinones play an important role in the response of many biological processes and environmental factors. Anthraquinones are common in the human diet and have a variety of biological activities including anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities that reduce disease risk. The biological activity of anthraquinones depends on the substitution pattern of their hydroxyl groups on the anthraquinone ring structure. However, there is still a lack of systematic summary on the distribution, classification, and biosynthesis of plant anthraquinones. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the research progress of the distribution, classification, biosynthesis, and regulation of plant anthraquinones. Additionally, we discuss future opportunities in anthraquinone research, including biotechnology, therapeutic products, and dietary anthraquinones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbionts tend to be aggregated on their hosts, such that few hosts harbor the majority of symbionts. This ubiquitous pattern can result from stochastic processes, but aggregation patterns may also depend on the type of host–symbiont interaction, along with traits that affect host exposure and susceptibility to symbionts. Untangling how aggregation patterns both within and among populations depend on stochastic processes, interaction type and host traits remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we address this challenge by using null models to compare aggregation patterns in a neutral system of Balanomorpha barnacles attached to patellid limpets and a host–parasite system of Gyrodactylus spp. monogeneans and their Trinidadian guppy Poecilia reticulata hosts. We first used a model to predict patterns of symbiont–host aggregation due to random partitioning of symbionts to hosts. This null model accurately predicted the aggregation of barnacles on limpets, but the degree of aggregation varied across 303 quadrats. Quadrats with larger limpets had less aggregated barnacles, whereas aggregation increased with variation in limpet size. Across 84 guppy populations, Gyrodactylus spp. parasites were significantly less aggregated than predicted by the null model. As in the neutral limpet–barnacle system, aggregation decreased with mean host size. Parasites were significantly less aggregated on males than females because male guppies tended to have higher prevalence and lower parasite burdens than predicted by the null model. Together, these results suggest stochastic processes can explain aggregation patterns in neutral but not parasitic systems, though in both systems host traits affect aggregation patterns. Because the distribution of symbionts on hosts can affect symbiont evolution via intraspecific interactions, and host behavior and evolution via host–symbiont interactions, identifying the drivers of aggregation enriches our understanding of host–symbiont interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION What is the distribution of endometriosis phenotypes according to age in adult women undergoing surgery? SUMMARY ANSWER The phenotype of endometriosis did not significantly vary after 24 years old. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The phenotypic evolution of endometriosis over time remains unclear. While adolescents can exhibit any type of endometriosis lesions, ovarian endometriosis (OMA) and/or deep-infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) tend to increase with age in young adults. In adulthood, understanding the evolution of lesions is crucial for disease management, but the literature on this subject is limited. This study aims to examine the distribution of endometriosis phenotypes in relation to age among adult patients requiring surgical treatment. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This observational cohort study included patients aged between ≥18 and ≤42 years, who underwent surgery for benign gynecological conditions at our institution between January 2004 and December 2022. A standardized questionnaire was completed for each patient during a face-to-face interview conducted by the surgeon in the month preceding surgery. Women with histologically proven endometriosis were included. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The distribution of endometriosis phenotypes (isolated superficial (SUP) endometriosis, OMA ± SUP, DIE ± SUP/OMA) was compared between young adults (≤24 years) and adults (>24 years) and among adults (25–28 years, 29–33 years, 34–38 years, 39 to ≤42 years) using univariate and multivariate analysis. The distribution of different subtypes of DIE (uterosacral ligament(s), vagina, bladder, intestine, and ureter), OMA size, and intensity of pain symptoms were also examined. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A total of 1311 adult women with histologically proven endometriosis were included. In women aged 24 years or younger (n = 116), the distribution of endometriosis phenotypes differed significantly from women older than 24 years (n = 1195): The frequency of the DIE ± SUP/OMA phenotype was lower (41.4% versus 56.1%, respectively), while the rate of isolated superficial lesions was higher (from 32.0% versus 25.9%) (P  = 0.001). In the group of women aged >24 years, a significantly higher proportion of vaginal DIE lesions (P  = 0.012) and a lower proportion of uterosacral ligament DIE lesions (P  = 0.004) were found compared to women aged ≤24 years. No significant differences were observed in terms of endometrioma size. Between the ages of 25 and 42 years, there were no significant changes in the distribution of endometriosis phenotypes after univariate and multivariate analysis. The distribution of subtype of DIE lesions did not significantly change with age between 25 and 42 years. Concerning pain symptom scores, there was a significant decrease with age for dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Inclusion of only surgical patients may have introduced a selection bias. Women referred to our center may have suffered from particularly severe clinical forms of endometriosis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study highlights that endometriosis presentation did not change with age in adult women. Further research on endometriosis phenotype evolution is necessary to assist practitioners in clinical decisions and treatment strategies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS None declared. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-year pot experiment was designed to investigate cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the various parts of poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. cv. 'Lux' I-69/55) by setting up 5 Cd application treatments (0, 5, 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg dry soil). The results showed that poplar exhibited a high tolerance to Cd stress, with Cd uptake significantly increasing across all plant parts as soil Cd levels rose. In general, leaves exhibited the highest Cd concentration while stems had the lowest. An upward increase trend of the accumulation of Cd in the aboveground parts from the base wood, along the stem to the branch, until the leaves, as well as a radially outward increase of Cd from the wood near the pith, to the wood near the bark, and finally to the bark, were observed. Over the three successive years, poplar trees exhibited a generally increasing extraction ability in terms of Cd concentration and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) in their aboveground parts, attributed to the enhanced leaf transpiration and conducting tissue development. The BCFs of various parts of poplar ranged from 0.09 to 6.30, following the trend of leaf > bark > branch > root > stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The establishment of a resuscitation room management for nontraumatic critically ill children appears to make sense. This study collected data of pediatric patients suffering from nontraumatic critically ill conditions treated in a resuscitation room. Methods: The retrospective OBSERvE-DUS-PED study (November 2019–October 2022) recorded pediatric patients (age < 18 years) who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) for resuscitation room care. The routinely documented data on treatment were taken from the hospital information system MEDICO® and the patient data management system COPRA® in accordance with the OBSERvE dataset. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University (2023-2377). Results: The study included 52 pediatric resuscitation room patients. Adolescents aged 14–17 years were the most frequent in the cohort representing 37% of the total and neonates/infants (0–1 year) were lowest at 8%. The most common symptoms categorized according to ABCDE problems were disturbance of consciousness (D) at 61%, cardiovascular failure (C) at 25%, respiratory insufficiency (B) at 6%, airway obstruction (A) and exposure/environment (E) problems each at 4%. The out-of-hospital and in-hospital emergency procedures were performed with the following frequencies: venous (58% vs. 65%), intraosseous (14% vs. 2%) and central venous access (0% vs. 12%), invasive airway management (35% vs. 8%), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (21% vs. 10%), vasopressors (15% vs. 17%), and intra-arterial pressure measurement (0% vs. 17%). The mean duration of resuscitation room management was 70 ± 43 min. The 30-day mortality was 17%. Conclusion: The OBSERvE-DUS-PED study demonstrates the major challenges in the care of critically ill nontraumatic pediatric patients, both in out-of-hospital and in-hospital management. The variety and complexity of the referral diagnoses as well as the immediate vital threat to the patients make it appear sensible to treat such patients primarily in a resuscitation room of the ED due to the available material, infrastructural and personnel resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the migratory behaviour of adult Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) breeding at Helgoland in the North Sea, based on data obtained from geolocation devices in the non-breeding season 2016–2017. Birds moved east and south-west to a broad range of wintering sites, ranging from the western Baltic Sea to North-West Africa. Three out of 12 birds spent the winter in Africa, while 9 birds wintered in Europe, with the primary wintering sites in the North Sea. All but one tagged bird spent some time in the Baltic Sea or in the transitional waters between the North Sea and Baltic Sea. We also analysed data from online databases (dofbasen.dk, ornitho.de) and the German Seabirds at Sea database to explore the extent to which Northern Gannets used the western Baltic Sea, as well as the Kattegat and Skagerrak, during the winter months. Records of Northern Gannets in Danish waters have increased substantially over the last 18 winters, with particular increases in the Baltic Sea. There was also a notable increase in sightings of Northern Gannets in German Baltic Sea waters, but this occurred later than in the more northerly Danish waters. Both analyses demonstrated that Northern Gannets explored the western part of the Baltic Sea, as well as the Kattegat and Skagerrak, increasingly intensively. This recent increase in sightings is in accord with the establishment and exponential increase in the nearest breeding colony of Northern Gannets at Helgoland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]