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Abstract Prompt ElastoGravity Signals are light-speed gravity-induced signals recorded before the arrival of seismic waves. They have raised interest for early warning applications but their weak amplitudes close to the background seismic noise have questioned their actual potential for operational use. A deep-learning model has recently demonstrated its ability to mitigate this noise limitation and to provide in near real-time the earthquake magnitude (M w ). However, this approach was efficient only for large earthquakes (M w ≥ 8.3) of known focal mechanism. Here we show unprecedented performance in full earthquake characterization using the dense broadband seismic network deployed in Alaska and Western Canada. Our deep-learning model provides accurate magnitude and focal mechanism estimates of M w ≥ 7.8 earthquakes, 2 minutes after origin time (hence the tsunamigenic potential). Our results represent a major step towards the routine use of prompt elastogravity signals in operational warning systems, and demonstrate its potential for tsunami warning in densely-instrumented areas.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of taking a daily supplement based on active compounds (AUDISTIM® Day Night: A D/N) in alleviating tinnitus-related disability, as suggested by previous real-life studies. This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted in adults with mild to severe tinnitus receiving a 3-month supplementation with A D/N (magnesium, vitamins, phytochemicals) or placebo (excipients without active ingredients). Tinnitus-related handicap (THI), psychological stress (MSP-9), and sleep quality (PSQI) were assessed at baseline and during intervention, perceived impression of tinnitus improvement at the end of the follow-up. The full set analysis included 114 patients (59 A D/N, 55 placebo) aged 53.8 ± 11.4 years, 58% women, with fluctuating (45%) or permanent (55%) tinnitus from 9.3 ± 9.4 years. A D/N supplementation led to greater changes in THI (−13.2 ± 16.0 vs. −6.2 ± 14.4, p = 0.0158, Cohen’s d = 0.44) at 3 months (primary outcome), especially with continuous tinnitus (−15.0 ± 16.3 vs. −4.6 ± 12.8, p = 0.0065), and, to a lesser extent, at 1 month (−9.8 ± 13.1 for A vs. −4.3 ± 12.1, p = 0.0213). PSQI significantly improved over time in both groups, but MSP-9 only with A D/N. In lines with previous observational studies, both clinical (THI score > 7 pts) and statistical (vs. placebo) improvement, more pronounced in permanent tinnitus, demonstrate the effectiveness of the combination of active compounds and support its use in the management of mild to severe tinnitus.

Abstract Islands have been used as model systems to study ecological and evolutionary processes, and they provide an ideal set‐up for validating new biodiversity monitoring methods. The application of environmental DNA metabarcoding for monitoring marine biodiversity requires an understanding of the spatial scale of the eDNA signal, which is best tested in island systems. Here, we investigated the variation in Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii species composition recovered from eDNA metabarcoding along a gradient of distance‐to‐reef in four of the five French Scattered Islands in the Western Indian Ocean. We collected surface water samples at an increasing distance from reefs (0 m, 250 m, 500 m, 750 m). We used a metabarcoding protocol based on the ‘teleo’ primers to target marine reef fishes and classified taxa according to their habitat types (benthic or pelagic). We investigated the effect of distance‐to‐reef on β diversity variation using generalised linear mixed models and estimated species‐specific distance‐to‐reef effects using a model‐based approach for community data. Environmental DNA metabarcoding analyses recovered distinct fish species compositions across the four inventoried islands and variations along the distance‐to‐reef gradient. The analysis of β‐diversity variation showed significant taxa turnover between the eDNA samples on and away from the reefs. In agreement with a spatially localised signal from eDNA, benthic species were distributed closer to the reef than pelagic ones. Our findings demonstrate that the combination of eDNA inventories and spatial modelling can provide insights into species habitat preferences related to distance‐to‐reef gradients at a small scale. As such, eDNA can not only recover large compositional differences among islands but also help understand habitat selection and distribution of marine species at a finer spatial scale.

IntroductionTeachers’ use of research has been increasingly advocated for in the past few decades, and some research has documented the factors which positively or negatively influence teachers’ use of research. However, the existing research does not give relevant information to prioritize between different ways to facilitate teachers’ use of research. In addition, different professionals working in education may have divergent opinions about such priorities. This study therefore asks what are the factors that most influence teachers’ use of research according to teachers, teacher trainers, educational decision makers and researchers?MethodsWe conducted a factorial survey experiment on six factors with 100 participants (pilot study) and 340 participants (main study) to identify which factors were perceived as influencing the most teachers’ use of research and to compare respondents’ perceptions according to their main role in education.ResultsThis study shows that support for research use by the institution and instrumental utility of research are the factors that were judged as most impactful. Some categories of respondents had conflicting views about specific factors, for instance researchers perceiving teachers’ involvement in research as less likely to facilitate teachers’ use of research.ConclusionThese findings can help decision-makers and teacher-trainers with limited resources to allocate them in a more effective way, while taking into consideration the disagreements across professions in order to resolve possibly arising conflicts.

The spread of COVID-19 led to a lockdown in New York in March of 2020. Nonemergent surgeries were postponed, including oncologic procedures. The backlog of surgeries was addressed starting May 2020. Our goal was to examine the change in waiting times for endometrial cancer surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic in our institution. Data on surgery incidence and waiting time was gathered for patients diagnosed with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia and endometrial cancer. The association between days from diagnosis to surgery was adjusted for age, obesity, presence of comorbid conditions, race, smoking history and diagnosis and was examined using a general linear model. A total of 190 patients were identified for this retrospective study. Five subjects were missing information on race and were excluded from all analyses, resulting in 185 subjects in the final analyses. Mean waiting time during COVID-19 was 70.9 days (95%CI 55.0, 91.3), compared to 49.3 (95%CI 49.8, 63.8) days during the reference period. No significant associations were seen between the time and any of the clinical or demographic factors.

Part of the evidence used to corroborate school motivation theories relies on modeling methods that estimate cross-lagged effects between constructs, that is, reciprocal effects from one occasion to another. Yet, the reliability of cross-lagged models rests on the assumption that students do not differ in their trajectories of growth over time (e.g., no high- or low-achievers). The present review explains why deviations from this assumption produce unreliable findings by confounding between- and within-person processes of change. To relax this assumption, next-generation cross-lagged models are presented and illustrated using panel data on high school students (N = 944). These issues and solutions are discussed using, as a case study, the pervading theory that motivation develops as a function of reciprocal effects between beliefs about the self (e.g., academic self-concept) and school achievement. Implications regarding the use of cross-lagged models and knowledge building in school motivation research are discussed. Online supplementary materials containing technical notes on cross-lagged models, as well as open-source data and scripts for R and Mplus, are provided to aid educational researchers use and compare these alternative models.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aggressive interstitial lung disease associated with progressive and irreversible deterioration of respiratory functions that lacks curative therapies. Despite IPF being associated with a dysregulated immune response, current antifibrotics aim only at limiting fibroproliferation. Transcriptomic analyses show that the P2RX7/IL18/IFNG axis is downregulated in IPF patients and that P2RX7 has immunoregulatory functions. Using our positive modulator of P2RX7, we show that activation of the P2RX7/IL-18 axis in immune cells limits lung fibrosis progression in a mouse model by favoring an antifibrotic immune environment, with notably an enhanced IL-18-dependent IFN-γ production by lung T cells leading to a decreased production of IL-17 and TGFβ. Overall, we show the ability of the immune system to limit lung fibrosis progression by targeting the immunomodulator P2RX7. Hence, treatment with a small activator of P2RX7 may represent a promising strategy to help patients with lung fibrosis.

Abstract Mesophotic marine ecosystems are characterized by lower light penetration supporting specialized fish fauna. Due to their depths (−30–−150 m), accessibility is challenging, and the structure of mesophotic fish assemblages is generally less known than either shallow reefs or deep zones with soft bottoms which are generally trawled. Environmental DNA metabarcoding from seawater filtered in situ could improve our ability to monitor the diversity of mesophotic ecosystems. Here, we developed and tested a submersible standalone pumping device allowing targeted marine water filtering to explore the biodiversity of two mesophotic ecosystems, one temperate along the Provence coast in the North‐Western Mediterranean Sea and one tropical at the seamount La Pérouse in the Western Indian Ocean. We filtered water samples from depths ranging between 0 and 200 m in the Mediterranean Sea and between 60 and 140 m in the Indian Ocean and applied a metabarcoding protocol using the teleo primer pair targeting the 12S mitochondrial rDNA (Actinopterygii and Chondrichthyes). For both study regions, our eDNA surveys were able to recover highly diverse fish assemblages, and the compositional analysis of eDNA samples showed both a marked signal of fish compositional turnover and overlapping taxa between depth zones. Further, we observed that a substantial number of species were found in samples collected in depths beyond their reported depth range suggesting an underestimation of species' depth tolerances. eDNA metabarcoding should thus complement existing knowledge of species' geographic distributions across space and depth. Overall, our results demonstrate the potential of eDNA metabarcoding for future mesophotic surveys as it allows fast and broad biodiversity assessment.

Abstract Background P2RX7 is a purinergic receptor with pleiotropic activities that is activated by high levels of extracellular ATP that are found in inflamed tissues. P2RX7 has immunomodulatory and anti-tumor proprieties and is therefore a therapeutic target for various diseases. Several compounds are developed to either inhibit or enhance its activation. However, studying their effect on P2RX7’s activities is limited to in vitro and ex vivo studies that require the use of unphysiological media that could affect its activation. Up to now, the only way to assess the activity of P2RX7 modulators on the receptor in vivo was in an indirect manner. Results We successfully developed a protocol allowing the detection of P2RX7 activation in vivo in lungs of mice, by taking advantage of its unique macropore formation ability. The protocol is based on intranasal delivery of TO-PRO™-3, a non-permeant DNA intercalating dye, and fluorescence measurement by flow cytometry. We show that ATP enhances TO-PRO™-3 fluorescence mainly in lung immune cells of mice in a P2RX7-dependant manner. Conclusions The described approach has allowed the successful analysis of P2RX7 activity directly in the lungs of WT and transgenic C57BL6 mice. The provided detailed guidelines and recommendations will support the use of this protocol to study the potency of pharmacologic or biologic compounds targeting P2RX7.

Given the interconnectedness of modern economies and the widespread adoption of just-in-time production methods, even minor disruptions caused by natural disasters can lead to substantial indirect economic impact. A substantial body of literature has explored this phenomenon, using input-output analysis, computable general equilibrium and agent-based models. However, these models (i) heavily rely on parameters and data that often lack empirical grounding or (ii) exhibit considerable uncertainty, making it challenging to assess their reliability. The ARIO model has been widely used in the literature and has provided theoretical foundation for several related models. Using the July 2021 floods in Germany as a case study, we assess the sensitivity of the results of this model by varying key parameters, as well as the multi-regional input-output tables (MRIOTs), which constitute its primary input data. To facilitate this analysis, we introduce a new, resource-efficient Python implementation of the ARIO model, enabling the execution of a large number of simulations. Our findings highlight the substantial impact of data source and parameter selection on model outcomes, especially so when post-disaster rebuilding is costly. To ensure the robustness of their results, future studies on indirect economic impacts should be careful about recovery dynamics, consider multiple scenarios and compare results using MRIOTs from various sources.

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis is highly heritable and genome-wide studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the disease. One such locus is marked by SNP rs11732213 (T > C). Genotype at rs11732213 correlates with the methylation levels of nearby CpG dinucleotides (CpGs), forming a methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL). This study investigated the regulatory activity of the CpGs to identify a target gene of the locus. Methods Nucleic acids were extracted from the articular cartilage of osteoarthritis patients. Samples were genotyped, and DNA methylation was quantified by pyrosequencing at 14 CpGs within a 259-bp interval. CpGs were tested for enhancer effects in immortalised chondrocytes using a reporter gene assay. DNA methylation at the locus was altered using targeted epigenome editing, with the impact on gene expression determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results rs11732213 genotype correlated with DNA methylation at nine CpGs, which formed a differentially methylated region (DMR), with the osteoarthritis risk allele T corresponding to reduced levels of methylation. The DMR acted as an enhancer and demethylation of the CpGs altered expression of TMEM129. Allelic imbalance in TMEM129 expression was identified in cartilage, with under-expression of the risk allele. Conclusions TMEM129 is a target of osteoarthritis genetic risk at this locus. Genotype at rs11732213 impacts DNA methylation at the enhancer, which, in turn, modulates TMEM129 expression. TMEM129 encodes an enzyme involved in protein degradation within the endoplasmic reticulum, a process previously implicated in osteoarthritis. TMEM129 is a compelling osteoarthritis susceptibility target.

Abstract Quantifying fish species diversity in rich tropical marine environments remains challenging. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a promising tool to face this challenge through the filtering, amplification, and sequencing of DNA traces from water samples. However, because eDNA concentration is low in marine environments, the reliability of eDNA to detect species diversity can be limited. Using an eDNA metabarcoding approach to identify fish Molecular Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) with a single 12S marker, we aimed to assess how the number of sampling replicates and filtered water volume affect biodiversity estimates. We used a paired sampling design of 30 L per replicate on 68 reef transects from 8 sites in 3 tropical regions. We quantified local and regional sampling variability by comparing MOTU richness, compositional turnover, and compositional nestedness. We found strong turnover of MOTUs between replicated pairs of samples undertaken in the same location, time, and conditions. Paired samples contained non‐overlapping assemblages rather than subsets of one another. As a result, non‐saturated localized diversity accumulation curves suggest that even 6 replicates (180 L) in the same location can underestimate local diversity (for an area

In a context of marine biodiversity erosion, the need to better understand the effects of overfishing stands out. New genetic techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding have emerged and allow the detection of a wider range of species compared to conventional methods, but still fall short of providing reliable abundance estimations and subsequent ecological indicators. In this paper, we propose a combination of metabarcoding and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to obtain the quantity of eDNA molecules per species. This method was used inside and outside six no-take Mediterranean marine reserves to measure the effect of the protection on fish species and build a new indicator. Even if the total quantity of fish eDNA molecules was not different between the inside and outside of the reserves, we detected that cryptobenthic fish eDNA was significantly associated to the outside of reserves. Based on this observation, we propose a novel ecological indicator, the Demerso-pelagic to Benthic fish eDNA Ratio (DeBRa), taking advantage of the eDNA capacity to detect cryptobenthic reef fishes which are often missed by classical surveys. The DeBRa was significantly higher inside reserves, reflecting a higher relative quantity of eDNA molecules belonging to pelagic and demersal fishes under protection against fishing, therefore it appears to be a reliable eDNA-based indicator of human pressure. Furthermore, the DeBRa was not sensitive to habitat or environmental variations and does not require a complete reference database of eDNA sequences since it can rely on sequences assigned at the genus or family scale if possible and necessary.

Abstract Monitoring large marine mammals is challenging due to their low abundances in general, an ability to move over large distances and wide geographical range sizes. The distribution of the pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf (Kogia sima) sperm whales is informed by relatively rare sightings, which does not permit accurate estimates of their distribution ranges. Hence, their conservation status has long remained Data Deficient (DD) in the Red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which prevent appropriate conservation measures. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding uses DNA traces left by organisms in their environments to detect the presence of targeted taxon, and is here proved to be useful to increase our knowledge on the distribution of rare but emblematic megafauna. Retrieving eDNA from filtered surface water provides the first detection of the Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) around the remote Malpelo island (Colombia). Environmental DNA collected during oceanic missions can generate better knowledge on rare but emblematic animals even in regions that are generally well sampled for other taxa.

Objective: To evaluate the use and performance of a gelling fibre dressing (Biatain Fiber; Coloplast A/S, Denmark) in the management of wounds in community nursing practice. Method: A sub-analysis of the prospective, observational, real-world VIPES (Observatoire en Ville des Plaies ExSudatives) study was conducted. Patients with exuding wounds, for which nurses chose to apply the gelling fibre as a primary dressing, were included. Outcomes included assessments of wound condition and patient/nurse opinion. Results: Overall, 149 patients with acute (n=52; 34.9%) or hard-to-heal (chronic) (n=97; 65.1%) wounds were included. At baseline, mean±standard deviation wound age was 351.5±998.2 days, 108 (72.5%) wounds were moderately-to-highly exuding, and 126 (84.6%) showed exudate pooling in the wound bed. At the last follow-up visit, 29 (19.5%) wounds had healed, within a median of 36 days, and 64 (43.0%) were progressing towards healing. From baseline to the last follow-up visit, significant reductions in wound surface area (p<0.05), depth (p<0.01), exudate level (p<0.0001), and in the proportion of wounds with sloughy tissue (p<0.0001) were observed. Most wounds had no (n=86; 58.5% (two missing values)) or low exudate pooling (n=45; 30.6% (two missing values)) at the last visit and proportions of patients with healthy wound edges/periwound skin increased from baseline. At the last visit, wounds were considered improved by nurses in 71.4% (n=105) of cases, and by patients in 66.7% (n=98) of cases (two patients missing). Conclusion: Patients who received treatment with the gelling fibre experienced improvements in the condition of a range of complex wounds. This analysis highlights the importance of adequate exudate management, and indicates how the selection of an appropriate wound dressing can encourage healing progression. Declaration of interest: This study was financially supported by Laboratoires Coloplast SAS, Paris, France. Coloplast A/S funded the writing and editing of the article and contributed to its content. Coloplast A/S and Laboratoires Coloplast SAS reviewed the article for scientific accuracy. Nurses received financial compensation for their participation in the study. NA is a full-time employee of Coloplast A/S. APJ was an employee of Coloplast A/S when this article was written. FA was a full-time employee of Laboratoires Coloplast SAS at the time of publication development. RS and CJ are full-time employees of CEN Biotech. AK received an educational grant from Coloplast A/S to provide scientific input to the publication. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a revolutionary method to monitor marine biodiversity from animal DNA traces. Examining the capacity of eDNA to provide accurate biodiversity measures in species‐rich ecosystems such as coral reefs is a prerequisite for their application in long‐term monitoring. Here, we surveyed two Colombian tropical marine reefs, the island of Providencia and Gayraca Bay near Santa Marta, using eDNA and underwater visual census (UVC) methods. We collected a large quantity of surface water (30 L per filter) above the reefs and applied a metabarcoding protocol using three different primer sets targeting the 12S mitochondrial DNA, which are specific to the vertebrates Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii. By assigning eDNA sequences to species using a public reference database, we detected the presence of 107 and 85 fish species, 106 and 92 genera, and 73 and 57 families in Providencia and Gayraca Bay, respectively. Of the species identified using eDNA, 32.7% (Providencia) and 18.8% (Gayraca) were also found in the UVCs. We further found congruence in genus and species richness and abundance between eDNA and UVC approaches in Providencia but not in Gayraca Bay. Mismatches between eDNA and UVC had a phylogenetic and ecological signal, with eDNA detecting a broader phylogenetic diversity and more effectively detecting smaller species, pelagic species and those in deeper habitats. Altogether, eDNA can be used for fast and broad biodiversity surveys and is applicable to species‐rich ecosystems in the tropics, but improved coverage of the reference database is required before this new method could serve as an effective complement to traditional census methods.

A limited percentage of patients with non-small cell lung cancer respond to immunotherapy. Here the authors show that HEI3090, a chemical positive modulator of the purinergic P2RX7 receptor, promotes IL-18 mediated anti-tumor immune responses and sensitizes lung cancer to anti-PD-1 therapy in preclinical models.

We interviewed 58 experts (30 in French, 28 in English) about potentially useful information and communication technologies (ICTs) for Québec college students with a learning disability (LD) and evaluated whether college students with an LD (n = 74), in fact, used these. We also compared ICT use, learning opportunities, and attitudes among three groups of students from Montreal area French and English language colleges: (1) students with an LD, and (2) students who, based on a reading comprehension test, were categorized as adequate readers (approximately top 50%) or (3) very poor readers (approximately bottom 20%). Results indicate important discrepancies between the views of the experts and the realities of students with LDs. Moreover, students with an LD use significantly fewer different types of ICTs than those without an LD.

The transition to agriculture brought major changes to human populations in Europe during the Neolithic period. Here, Cubas and colleagues analyse lipid residues from Neolithic pottery from along the Atlantic coast of Europe to trace the spread of dairy production and shifts in diet.

Numerous studies have examined the effects of gender diversity in groups on creative performance, and no clear effect has been identified. Findings depend on situational cues making gender diversity more or less salient in groups. A large-scale study on two cohorts (N = 2,261) was conducted among business students to examine the impact of the gender diversity in small groups on divergent thinking in an idea-generation task performed by synchronous electronic brainstorming. Participants were automatically randomized in three- or four-member groups to generate ideas during 10 min on a gendered or neutral task. Then, five categories of groups where the proportion of men/women in groups varied from three/four men to three/four women were compared to examine creative performance on three divergent thinking measures (fluency, flexibility, and originality). A Multivariate Generalized Linear Mixed Model (mGLMM) showed greater fluency in all-women groups than in other groups (except mixed-gender groups composed of two men and two women), and more specifically “solo” groups composed of a single woman/man among a majority of men/women. For flexibility and originality, the superiority of all-women groups was found only in comparison to “solo” groups composed of a single woman. As gender differences are more salient in “solo” groups than in other groups faultlines may appear in groups, leading to a deleterious impact on creative performance.