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The article compares two representative approaches to the description of dependency syntax: Šmilauer’s syntax for Czech (1947) and Tesnière’s structural syntax focused on syntax in general (1959). Similarities and differences between the two leading representatives of modern syntax are the object of comparison. The degree of general knowledge of Tesnière’s approach in the Czech environment is considered in the works of Šmilauer before Tesnière’s most comprehensive work was published. Both authors use graphic means to capture the syntactic structure of a sentence, called stemmata by Tesnière. Both authors, however, differ in their conception of the central sentence pair of syntactic structure: subject and predicate. While Šmilauer considers the subject to be the basic source of agreement for the predicate, for Tesnière the subject is one of the members dependent on the verb (in the same vein as the objects or adverbials). This approach then led Tesnière to introduce the notion of verbal valency reflecting the necessary participants in the action expressed by the verb. Both authors also differ in their representation of the order of words in the graphic representation: Šmilauer respects the surface order of words in the sentence structure, while Tesnière mostly places the actants to the left of the governing verb and the circumstants to the right.

Abstract Competence for natural transformation is a central driver of genetic diversity in bacteria. In the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, competence exhibits a populational character mediated by the stress-induced ComABCDE quorum-sensing (QS) system. Here, we explore how this cell-to-cell communication mechanism proceeds and the functional properties acquired by competent cells grown under lethal stress. We show that populational competence development depends on self-induced cells stochastically emerging in response to stresses, including antibiotics. Competence then propagates through the population from a low threshold density of self-induced cells, defining a biphasic Self-Induction and Propagation (SI&P) QS mechanism. We also reveal that a competent population displays either increased sensitivity or improved tolerance to lethal doses of antibiotics, dependent in the latter case on the competence-induced ComM division inhibitor. Remarkably, these surviving competent cells also display an altered transformation potential. Thus, the unveiled SI&P QS mechanism shapes pneumococcal competence as a health sensor of the clonal population, promoting a bet-hedging strategy that both responds to and drives cells towards heterogeneity.

Background Telerehabilitation (TR), a branch of telemedicine, provides remote therapeutic rehabilitation through telecommunication. Driven by technological advances and benefits like remote monitoring and patient education, it has grown since 1998. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted its importance in maintaining healthcare access. Research question What is the efficacy of TR compared to in-person rehabilitation? Are the assessment tools effective? Is TR well-accepted, and are costs reduced? Methods A bibliographic search on Medline, Cochrane and Google Scholar focused on systematic reviews (SRs) from 2014 to Mai 2024, comparing TR or home-based rehabilitation with in person treatments for various conditions. Independent reviewers conducted initial screenings, resolving disagreements by a third reviewer. Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to evaluate the quality of review. The data was synthesised narratively. Results The search identified 665 SRs. After selection, 228 SR were included. TR models include synchronous (real-time video interactions), asynchronous (independent sessions through digital platforms) and mixed methods. Regardless of the medical fields, the conclusions of the SRs consistently point to the equivalence of TR compared to in-person rehabilitation. Remote evaluations via digital tools were reliable and valid for various assessments. TR is cost effectiveness and well accepted. Conclusions TR is a viable alternative or complement to traditional rehabilitation, offering enhanced accessibility, reduced costs and improved results. Barriers include technical issues, training and concerns about lack of physical contact. Mixed methods could address these challenges.

Summary: Background: We apply endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy to cytopathologically diagnose and sample nucleic acids from primary tumours regardless of the disease stage. Methods: 397 patients with proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included and followed up in a multicentre prospective study. DNA and mRNA were extracted from materials of primary tumours obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy and analysed using targeted deep sequencing and RNAseq respectively. Findings: The variant allele frequency of the KRAS mutation was used to evaluate the tumour cellularity, ranging from 15 to 20% in all cells, regardless of the tumour stage. The molecular profile of metastatic primary tumours significantly differed from other types of tumours, more frequently having TP53 mutations (p = 0.0002), less frequently having RNF43 mutations, and possessing more basal-like mRNA component (p = 0.001). Molecular markers associated with improved overall survival were: mutations in homologous recombination deficiency genes in patients who received first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (p = 0.025) and wild-type TP53 gene in patients with locally advanced tumours who received radio-chemotherapy (p = 0.01). The GemPred transcriptomic profile was associated with a significantly better overall survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who received a gemcitabine-based first-line treatment (p = 0.019). Interpretation: The combination of genomic and transcriptomic analyses of primary pancreatic tumours enables us to distinguish metastatic tumours from other tumour types. Our molecular strategy may assist in predicting overall survival outcomes for platinum or gemcitabine-based chemotherapies, as well as radio-chemotherapy. Funding: Institut National Du Cancer (BCB INCa_7294), CHU of Toulouse, Inserm and Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (CIT program).

Connue comme une méthode de revégétalisation ancestrale, le bouturage s'impose encore aujourd’hui comme la technique la plus simple et économique pour le contrôle de l’érosion en rivière. Cet article vise à synthétiser les potentialités de l'utilisation du bouturage en tant que technique d’aménagement et de protection des berges, en présentant les espèces végétales à privilégier ainsi que les recommandations et spécifications techniques à appliquer pour assurer leur succès.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate users’ driving performances with a Power Wheelchair (PWC) driving simulator in comparison to the same driving task in real conditions with a standard power wheelchair. Methods Three driving circuits of progressive difficulty levels (C1, C2, C3) that were elaborated to assess the driving performances with PWC in indoor situations, were used in this study. These circuits have been modeled in a 3D Virtual Environment to replicate the three driving task scenarios in Virtual Reality (VR). Users were asked to complete the three circuits with respect to two testing conditions during three successive sessions, i.e. in VR and on a real circuit (R). During each session, users completed the two conditions. Driving performances were evaluated using the number of collisions and time to complete the circuit. In addition, driving ability by Wheelchair Skill Test (WST) and mental load were assessed in both conditions. Cybersickness, user satisfaction and sense of presence were measured in VR. The conditions R and VR were randomized. Results Thirty-one participants with neurological disorders and expert wheelchair drivers were included in the study. The driving performances between VR and R conditions were statistically different for the C3 circuit but were not statistically different for the two easiest circuits C1 and C2. The results of the WST was not statistically different in C1, C2 and C3. The mental load was higher in VR than in R condition. The general sense of presence was reported as acceptable (mean value of 4.6 out of 6) for all the participants, and the cybersickness was reported as acceptable (SSQ mean value of 4.25 on the three circuits in VR condition). Conclusion Driving performances were statistically different in the most complicated circuit C3 with an increased number of collisions in VR, but were not statistically different for the two easiest circuits C1 and C2 in R and VR conditions. In addition, there were no significant adverse effects such as cybersickness. The results show the value of the simulator for driving training applications. Still, the mental load was higher in VR than in R condition, thus mitigating the potential for use with people with cognitive disorders. Further studies should be conducted to assess the quality of skill transfer for novice drivers from the simulator to the real world. Trial registration Ethical approval n $$^\circ$$ ∘ 2019-A001306-51 from Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud Mediterranée IV. Trial registered the 19/11/2019 on ClinicalTrials.gov in ID: NCT04171973.

Low maternal vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy have been associated with a range of offspring health outcomes. DNA methylation is one mechanism by which the maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy could impact offspring’s health in later life. We aimed to evaluate whether maternal vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy was conditionally associated with DNA methylation in the offspring cord blood. Maternal vitamin D insufficiency (plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D [Formula: see text] 75 nmol/L) during pregnancy and offspring cord blood DNA methylation, assessed using Illumina Infinium 450k or Illumina EPIC Beadchip, was collected for 3738 mother–child pairs in 7 cohorts as part of the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) consortium. Associations between maternal vitamin D and offspring DNA methylation, adjusted for fetal sex, maternal smoking, maternal age, maternal pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy BMI, maternal education, gestational age at measurement of 25(OH)D, parity, and cell type composition, were estimated using robust linear regression in each cohort, and a fixed-effects meta-analysis was conducted. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency ranged from 44.3% to 78.5% across cohorts. Across 364,678 CpG sites, none were associated with maternal vitamin D insufficiency at an epigenome-wide significant level after correcting for multiple testing using Bonferroni correction or a less conservative Benjamini–Hochberg False Discovery Rate approach (FDR, p > 0.05). In this epigenome-wide association study, we did not find convincing evidence of a conditional association of vitamin D insufficiency with offspring DNA methylation at any measured CpG site.

Objective Gut microbes and microbe-dependent metabolites (eg, tryptophan-kynurenine-serotonin pathway metabolites) have been linked to systemic inflammation, but the microbiota-metabolite-inflammation axis remains uncharacterised in children. Here we investigated whether gut microbiota features and circulating metabolites (both microbe-dependent and non-microbe-dependent metabolites) associated with circulating inflammation markers in children.Methods We studied children from the prospective Gen3G birth cohort who had data on untargeted plasma metabolome (n=321 children; Metabolon platform), gut microbiota (n=147; 16S rRNA sequencing), and inflammation markers (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumour necrosis factor-α) measured at 5–7 years. We examined associations of microbial taxa and metabolites—examining microbe-dependent and non-microbe-dependent metabolites separately—with each inflammatory marker and with an overall inflammation score (InfSc), adjusting for key confounders and correcting for multiple comparisons. We also compared the proportion of significantly associated microbe-dependent versus non-microbe-dependent metabolites, identified a priori (Human Microbial Metabolome Database), with each inflammation marker.Results Of 335 taxa tested, 149 were associated (qFDR

The Partnership for the Development and Success of Science Education in Secondary Schools project seeks to improve science education by fostering a dynamic environment for professional development and teacher-led inquiry within professional learning communities (PLCs). Addressing the long-standing problem of outdated pedagogical approaches, the initiative encourages secondary science teachers to actively engage in action research to identify and/or address student misconceptions of scientific concepts. Through collaboration with professional development leaders and university experts, teachers are empowered to implement and refine evidence-based instructional strategies and cultivate a culture of ongoing professional growth and reflective practice. The partnership emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between educational research and classroom practice to improve the quality and effectiveness of science education. The project aims to bring about a positive change in teachers’ instructional practices and reflections and an increased alignment with contemporary educational standards and evidence-based practices.

Summary: Background: Cambodia targets P. falciparum malaria elimination by 2023 and all human malaria species by 2025, aligning with WHO's Mekong Malaria Elimination program. The Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Forest Goers (IPTf) project aimed at forest-specific malaria elimination. The study aims to pinpoint the main factors driving malaria transmission in Cambodian forests and evaluate the initial implementation and effectiveness of IPTf in accelerating the elimination of malaria by treating and preventing infections among at-risk populations in these areas. Methods: From March 11, 2019, to January 30, 2021, a malaria intervention program took place in isolated forests in Northeast Cambodia. The first phase focused on observing forest goers (FGs) within the forests, documenting their malaria risk. In the second phase, a monthly artesunate-mefloquine IPTf was implemented by trained forest malaria workers who were former FGs conducting interviews, blood collection, and IPTf administration. Findings: Throughout the two-year period, 2198 FGs were involved in 3579 interviews, with 284 in both the observation and intervention phases. Following IPTf implementation, PCR-confirmed malaria prevalence significantly decreased from 2.9% to 0.5% for P. falciparum and from 21.0% to 4.7% for P. vivax. Among the 284 participants tracked through both phases, malaria prevalence fell from 2.5% to 0.3% for P. falciparum and from 22.5% to 3.7% for P. vivax. The intervention phase demonstrated a rapid decline in P. falciparum prevalence among mobile and previously inaccessible populations, while also revealing a higher P. falciparum infection risk associated with activities inaccurately labelled as farming, underscoring the need for customized interventions. Interpretation: The successful implementation of IPTf in Cambodia's remote forests has markedly decreased malaria prevalence among high-risk groups. Cambodia's National Malaria Program has acknowledged this strategy as essential for malaria elimination intervention, endorsing forest-specific approaches to meet the 2025 goal of eradicating all human malaria species in Cambodia. Funding: The study received funding from the French 5% Initiative (Initiative Canal 2-17SANIN205).

Après un examen attentif des codes des personnes et de la famille de certains pays africains, il en ressort que les législateurs de ces Etats adoptent, pour contrer sa dénaturation, deux positions opposées. De ces positions, l’une prône la suppression pure et simple de la dot de leurs codes des personnes et de la famille. Il s’agit notamment, des législateurs du Gabonais, de la Côte d’Ivoirien et du Burkinabè. Toutefois, en dépit de toutes les justifications qui ont mené jusqu’à la suppression de celle-ci, mais, que constatons-nous sinon que cet effort, n’a pas atteint le but qu’il visait, à savoir, enrayer autant que cela le permet, cette pratique anachronique.

Abstract Increasing attention has been drawn to the misuse of statistical methods over recent years, with particular concern about the prevalence of practices such as poor experimental design, cherry picking and inadequate reporting. These failures are largely unintentional and no more common in ecology than in other scientific disciplines, with many of them easily remedied given the right guidance. Originating from a discussion at the 2020 International Statistical Ecology Conference, we show how ecologists can build their research following four guiding principles for impactful statistical research practices: (1) define a focussed research question, then plan sampling and analysis to answer it; (2) develop a model that accounts for the distribution and dependence of your data; (3) emphasise effect sizes to replace statistical significance with ecological relevance; and (4) report your methods and findings in sufficient detail so that your research is valid and reproducible. These principles provide a framework for experimental design and reporting that guards against unsound practices. Starting with a well‐defined research question allows researchers to create an efficient study to answer it, and guards against poor research practices that lead to poor estimation of the direction, magnitude, and uncertainty of ecological relationships, and to poor replicability. Correct and appropriate statistical models give sound conclusions. Good reporting practices and a focus on ecological relevance make results impactful and replicable. Illustrated with two examples—an experiment to study the impact of disturbance on upland wetlands, and an observational study on blue tit colouring—this paper explains the rationale for the selection and use of effective statistical practices and provides practical guidance for ecologists seeking to improve their use of statistical methods.

Abstract Background Higher maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. However, whether these associations are causal remains unclear. Methods We explored the relation of maternal pre-/early-pregnancy BMI with 20 pregnancy and perinatal outcomes by integrating evidence from three different approaches (i.e. multivariable regression, Mendelian randomisation, and paternal negative control analyses), including data from over 400,000 women. Results All three analytical approaches supported associations of higher maternal BMI with lower odds of maternal anaemia, delivering a small-for-gestational-age baby and initiating breastfeeding, but higher odds of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, pre-labour membrane rupture, induction of labour, caesarean section, large-for-gestational age, high birthweight, low Apgar score at 1 min, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. For example, higher maternal BMI was associated with higher risk of gestational hypertension in multivariable regression (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.63, 1.70 per standard unit in BMI) and Mendelian randomisation (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.38, 1.83), which was not seen for paternal BMI (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.98, 1.04). Findings did not support a relation between maternal BMI and perinatal depression. For other outcomes, evidence was inconclusive due to inconsistencies across the applied approaches or substantial imprecision in effect estimates from Mendelian randomisation. Conclusions Our findings support a causal role for maternal pre-/early-pregnancy BMI on 14 out of 20 adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Pre-conception interventions to support women maintaining a healthy BMI may reduce the burden of obstetric and neonatal complications. Funding Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, European Research Council, National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Health Research, Research Council of Norway, Wellcome Trust.

Pain is a frequent and disabling non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Yet, no treatment to date can efficiently reduce this pain. This article investigates the brain functional connectivity of PD patients with central pain and the effects of levodopa and oxycodone on this connectivity.Thirty-eight PD patients received either levodopa, oxycodone, or a placebo during an eight-week period. Pain intensity was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale and resting-state functional connectivity was measured before and after treatments. PD patients were also separated into two groups: responders and non-responders.At baseline, the intensity of pain was correlated with the connectivity between the anterior insula and the posterior cingulate cortex and between the nucleus accumbens, the brainstem, and the hippocampus. Levodopa and oxycodone had no specific effects on functional connectivity. Responders had a decrease in connectivity between the anterior insula and the posterior cingulate cortex, while non-responders showed an increase in connectivity.The correlation between pain intensity and specific brain connectivity may represent a “hyper-awareness” of pain and a distortion of learning and memory systems in PD patients with central pain, leading to a state of chronic pain. The placebo effect could explain the changes in connectivity that are associated with a potential reduction in pain awareness.

This paper presents a phytosociological study of dry and mesophilous meadows and pastures in the Locarnese region (Insubria - Southern Switzerland). Seventy-one vegetation relevés were analysed using both hierarchical classification and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination. Seven main clusters were identified and described as follows: (i) xerophytic grasslands on sandy soil dominated by Koeleria macrantha; (ii) mesophilous meadows with Arrhenatherum elatius and Centaurea transalpina; (iii) semi-dry meadows with Chrysopogon gryllus; (iv) semi-dry grasslands with Carex fritschii and Thalictrum minus; (v) nutrient-poor Phyteuma betonicifolium-Festuca nigrescens montane zone grasslands; Nardus stricta grasslands dominated by (vi) Festuca paniculata or (vii) Carex pilulifera. From a phytosociological point of view, a new association named Phyteumo betonicifolii-Festucetum nigrescentis, classified into the Nardo strictae-Agrostion tenuis alliance was proposed. In addition, we confirmed the presence of the Holco-Chrysopogonetum grylli association, within the Bromion erecti, which up to now was provisional only.

Abstract Background Seasonal variations in environmental exposures at birth or during gestation are associated with numerous adult traits and health outcomes later in life. Whether DNA methylation (DNAm) plays a role in the molecular mechanisms underlying the associations between birth season and lifelong phenotypes remains unclear. Methods We carried out epigenome-wide meta-analyses within the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetic Consortium to identify associations of DNAm with birth season, both at differentially methylated probes (DMPs) and regions (DMRs). Associations were examined at two time points: at birth (21 cohorts, N = 9358) and in children aged 1–11 years (12 cohorts, N = 3610). We conducted meta-analyses to assess the impact of latitude on birth season-specific associations at both time points. Results We identified associations between birth season and DNAm (False Discovery Rate-adjusted p values

Maternal blood glucose regulation adaptation to pregnancy aims to support fetal growth but may also lead to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus, the most common pregnancy complication. MiRNAs are small RNA molecules secreted and stable in the blood, where they could have paracrine hormone-like functions (ribo-hormone) and regulate metabolic processes including fetal growth and glucose metabolism. The objective of this study was to identify plasmatic microRNA (miRNAs) measured during the first trimester of pregnancy that were associated with glucose levels during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at ~26 weeks of pregnancy. miRNAs were quantified using next-generation sequencing in 444 pregnant women and replicated in an independent cohort of 106 pregnant women. MiRNAs associated with glucose levels were identified with the DESeq2 package. We identified 24 miRNAs associated with fasting glycemia, of which 18 were common to both cohorts (q-value < 0.1). However, no association was found between miRNAs and 1 h or 2 h post OGTT glycemia. To conclude, we identified 18 miRNAs early in pregnancy that were associated with fasting blood glucose measured 3 months later. Our findings offer new insights into the mechanisms involved in fasting glucose homeostasis regulation in pregnancy, which is critical to understanding how gestational diabetes develops.

Abstract Although meta‐analysis has become an essential tool in ecology and evolution, reporting of meta‐analytic results can still be much improved. To aid this, we have introduced the orchard plot, which presents not only overall estimates and their confidence intervals, but also shows corresponding heterogeneity (as prediction intervals) and individual effect sizes. Here, we have added significant enhancements by integrating many new functionalities into orchaRd 2.0. This updated version allows the visualisation of heteroscedasticity (different variances across levels of a categorical moderator), marginal estimates (e.g. marginalising out effects other than the one visualised), conditional estimates (i.e. estimates of different groups conditioned upon specific values of a continuous variable) and visualisations of all types of interactions between two categorical/continuous moderators. orchaRd 2.0 has additional functions which calculate key statistics from multilevel meta‐analytic models such as I2 and R2. Importantly, orchaRd 2.0 contributes to better reporting by complying with PRISMA‐EcoEvo (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses in ecology and evolution). Taken together, orchaRd 2.0 can improve the presentation of meta‐analytic results and facilitate the exploration of previously neglected patterns. In addition, as a part of a literature survey, we found that graphical packages are rarely cited (~3%). We plea that researchers credit developers and maintainers of graphical packages, for example, by citations in a figure legend, acknowledging the use of relevant packages.

Abstract Background In utero exposure to maternal hyperglycemia has been associated with an increased risk for the development of chronic diseases in later life. These predispositions may be programmed by fetal DNA methylation (DNAm) changes that persist postnatally. However, although some studies have associated fetal exposure to gestational hyperglycemia with DNAm variations at birth, and metabolic phenotypes in childhood, no study has yet examined how maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy may be associated with offspring DNAm from birth to five years of age. Hypothesis Maternal hyperglycemia is associated with variation in offspring DNAm from birth to 5 years of age. Methods We estimated maternal hyperglycemia using the area under the curve for glucose (AUCglu) following an oral glucose tolerance test conducted at 24–30 weeks of pregnancy. We quantified DNAm levels in cord blood (n = 440) and peripheral blood at five years of age (n = 293) using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip (Illumina). Our total sample included 539 unique dyads (mother–child) with 194 dyads having DNAm at both time-points. We first regressed DNAm M-values against the cell types and child age for each time-point separately to account for the difference by time of measurement for these variables. We then used a random intercept model from the linear mixed model (LMM) framework to assess the longitudinal association between maternal AUCglu and the repeated measures of residuals of DNAm. We adjusted for the following covariates as fixed effects in the random intercept model: maternal age, gravidity, smoking status, child sex, maternal body mass index (BMI) (measured at first trimester of pregnancy), and a binary variable for time-point. Results In utero exposure to higher maternal AUCglu was associated with lower offspring blood DNAm levels at cg00967989 located in FSD1L gene (β = − 0.0267, P = 2.13 × 10–8) in adjusted linear regression mixed models. Our study also reports other CpG sites for which DNAm levels were suggestively associated (P

Abstract In this article, we describe a study conducted online with 953 participants of varying levels of education and, when applicable, science/physics teaching experience. These participants were asked to solve a cognitive task in which many different pairs of objects were presented and to identify which, if any, would touch the ground first when dropped (in atmospheric or non-atmospheric environments). Recorded accuracies and response times allowed us to conduct an analysis based on the conceptual prevalence framework, which posits that the coexistence of conceptual and/or misconceptual resources can produce interference in response production. The results show that the influence of some of them decreases or, more surprisingly, increases with training. In fact, secondary and college physics teachers seem to cultivate some of them, and most likely have contributed to their spread. The implications for teaching and research are discussed.

Background: PET imaging of the translocator protein (TSPO) is used to assess in vivo brain inflammation. One of the main methodological issues with this method is the allelic dependence of the radiotracer affinity. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), previous studies have shown similar clinical and patho-biological profiles between TSPO genetic subgroups. However, there is no evidence regarding the effect of the TSPO genotype on cerebrospinal-fluid biomarkers of glial activation, and synaptic and axonal damage. Method: We performed a trans-sectional study in early AD to compare cerebrospinal-fluid levels of GFAP, YKL-40, sTREM2, IL-6, IL-10, NfL and neurogranin between TSPO genetic subgroups. Results: We recruited 33 patients with early AD including 16 (48%) high affinity binders, 13 (39%) mixed affinity binders, and 4/33 (12%) low affinity binders. No difference was observed in terms of demographics, and cerebrospinal fluid levels of each biomarker for the different subgroups. Conclusion: TSPO genotype is not associated with a change in glial activation, synaptic and axonal damage in early AD. Further studies with larger numbers of participants will be needed to confirm that the inclusion of specific TSPO genetic subgroups does not introduce selection bias in studies and trials of AD that combine TSPO imaging with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.

The energy efficiency of the single-effect absorption refrigeration systems (ARS) using ionic liquid (IL) [Emim]Br as an absorbent and water as a refrigerant is evaluated in this study. The thermodynamic properties of the mixture, such as vapor pressures and excess enthalpies, are calculated using the non-random two-liquid (NRTL) activity coefficient model. The coefficient of performance (COP) is estimated with fixed temperatures for the evaporator, absorber, condenser, and generator, set at 10, 30, 40, and 100 °C, respectively. It is found that the COP of the single-effect ARS using [Emim]Br-H2O as the working pair is about 0.8, which is slightly lower than that obtained with LiBr-H2O (0.83), but much higher than that of H2O-NH3 (0.65) systems. The effect of generator temperature on COP has the same trend as that of other IL working pairs. The influence of each component temperature on the system’s performance is investigated, and it is found that the single-effect ARS performs very well under different conditions with [Emim]Br - H2O as the working pair.

Abstract Exposure to extreme temperatures can negatively affect animal reproduction, by disrupting the ability of individuals to produce any offspring (fertility), or the number of offspring produced by fertile individuals (fecundity). This has important ecological consequences, because reproduction is the ultimate measure of population fitness: a reduction in reproductive output lowers the population growth rate and increases the extinction risk. Despite this importance, there have been no large‐scale summaries of the evidence for effect of temperature on reproduction. We provide a systematic map of studies testing the relationship between temperature and animal reproduction. We systematically searched for published studies that statistically test for a direct link between temperature and animal reproduction, in terms of fertility, fecundity or indirect measures of reproductive potential (gamete and gonad traits). Overall, we collated a large and rich evidence base, with 1654 papers that met our inclusion criteria, encompassing 1191 species. The map revealed several important research gaps. Insects made up almost half of the dataset, but reptiles and amphibians were uncommon, as were non‐arthropod invertebrates. Fecundity was the most common reproductive trait examined, and relatively few studies measured fertility. It was uncommon for experimental studies to test exposure of different life stages, exposure to short‐term heat or cold shock, exposure to temperature fluctuations, or to independently assess male and female effects. Studies were most often published in journals focusing on entomology and pest control, ecology and evolution, aquaculture and fisheries science, and marine biology. Finally, while individuals were sampled from every continent, there was a strong sampling bias towards mid‐latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, such that the tropics and polar regions are less well sampled. This map reveals a rich literature of studies testing the relationship between temperature and animal reproduction, but also uncovers substantial missing treatment of taxa, traits, and thermal regimes. This database will provide a valuable resource for future quantitative meta‐analyses, and direct future studies aiming to fill identified gaps.

Lack of information on authors’ contribution to specific aspects of a study hampers reproducibility and replicability. Here, the authors propose a new, easily implemented reporting system to clarify contributor roles in the Methods section of an article.

Viruses pose major global challenges to crop production as infections reduce the yield and quality of harvested products, hinder germplasm exchange, increase financial inputs, and threaten food security. Small island or archipelago habitat conditions such as those in the Caribbean are particularly susceptible as the region is characterized by high rainfall and uniform, warm temperatures throughout the year. Moreover, Caribbean islands are continuously exposed to disease risks because of their location at the intersection of transcontinental trade between North and South America and their role as central hubs for regional and global agricultural commodity trade. This review provides a summary of virus disease epidemics that originated in the Caribbean and those that were introduced and spread throughout the islands. Epidemic-associated factors that impact disease development are also discussed. Understanding virus disease epidemiology, adoption of new diagnostic technologies, implementation of biosafety protocols, and widespread acceptance of biotechnology solutions to counter the effects of cultivar susceptibility remain important challenges to the region. Effective integrated disease management requires a comprehensive approach that should include upgraded phytosanitary measures and continuous surveillance with rapid and appropriate responses.

Abstract The state of coral reefs has been of great concern, as documented in the growing amount of primary literature. These reports on coral health have accumulated, resulting in reviews of the primary studies (i.e. secondary literature). Recently, such reviews have also accumulated, creating an opportunity to review the secondary literature. Second‐order syntheses (reviews of secondary literature) provide an overview of the field, which can be used to guide future research. Based on our previously published protocol, we compiled peer‐reviewed secondary literature on coral health from Scopus and Web of Science databases. We synthesised 335 secondary literature papers on coral health, 35 of which underwent critical appraisal and 333 of which also underwent bibliometric analysis. The secondary literature consisted primarily of qualitative reviews (78%). Over 80% of papers stated informing coral conservation as the review's purpose. Climate change (50%) and coral resilience (42%) were the most studied topics, and bioerosion was the least (3.6%). Critically appraised papers scored poorly on Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Synthesis Assessment Tool criteria (studies did not meet standards 55% of the time). The authors of the secondary literature were highly interconnected (with 30% of the authors having more than 15 coauthors within our dataset) and included authors from countries with coral reefs (predominantly in Australia and USA; 79% of papers). The secondary literature on coral health had a median Altmetric score of 5.27. We have revealed key gaps in coral health topics for further review (e.g. coral range shifts and microbial biodiversity), particularly when considering conservation policy. Incorporating research in policy could be improved through greater research accessibility and continuing to gather public interest in coral reefs. We further recommend broadening research collaborations to include even more researchers from countries with coral reefs (e.g. Maldives). Finally, the secondary literature on coral health needs better reporting transparency (e.g. publishing code). Our second‐order synthesis is timely, pushing coral health research in a new direction—one which produces research of higher quality, collaboration, and efficiency. As coral reefs decline, we should also aim to rebuild public trust in research and strengthen the evidence base for conservation.

It is now largely recognized that pollinators are threatened in agricultural habitats. Cities are thus seen as potential refuges for pollinators, if suitable green spaces are available, because they present favorable abiotic conditions for many pollinator species. However, data on resources used by bees in urban habitats are scarce. Moreover, promoting indigenous meadows in urban green spaces could help pollinator’s survival. In this study, Apis mellifera was taken as a model to investigate potential difference in plant diversity used in agricultural and urban habitat. Pollen loads were sampled in 15 hives in both habitat types, using pollen traps. Then, the attractiveness of a melliferous meadow on wild bees was tested. To that end, a new seed mix (BF) including 35 indigenous plants producing nectar and/or pollen harvested by bees was developed and its attractiveness was compared to a seed mix widely used in Geneva (PFG). For most of the season, quantity and diversity of the pollen sampled was not significantly different between agricultural and urban habitats. Nevertheless, honey bees used different species in both habitats, probably because different plant communities are present. Sixty-one wild bee species were observed foraging in the new BF seed mix compared to only 47 species in the PFG. Likewise, more plants species were used in the BF seed mix than in the PFG. These results show that urban zones can be interesting for pollinators because they display diverse and abundant plant communities. Additionally, it shows that urban parks are species rich habitats, and that pollinator communities respond immediately to additional resources when available.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is well known for its ability to develop competence for natural DNA transformation. Competence development is regulated by an autocatalytic loop driven by variations in the basal level of transcription of the comCDE and comAB operons. These genes are part of the early gene regulon that controls expression of the late competence genes known to encode the apparatus of transformation. Several stressful conditions are known to promote competence development, although the induction pathways are remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that transient temperature elevation induces an immediate increase in the basal expression level of the comCDE operon and early genes that, in turn, stimulates its full induction, including that of the late competence regulon. This thermal regulation depends on the HtrA chaperone/protease and its proteolytic activity. We find that other competence induction stimulus, like norfloxacin, is not conveyed by the HtrA-dependent pathway. This finding strongly suggests that competence can be induced by at least two independent pathways and thus reinforces the view that competence is a general stress response system in the pneumococcus.

Summary: In a scenario where the discovery of new molecules to fight antibiotic resistance is a public health concern, ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides constitute a promising alternative. In this context, the Gram-positive human gut symbiont Ruminococcus gnavus E1 produces five sactipeptides, Ruminococcins C1 to C5 (RumC1–C5), co-expressed with two radical SAM maturases. RumC1 has been shown to be effective against various multidrug resistant Gram-positives clinical isolates. Here, after adapting the biosynthesis protocol to obtain the four mature RumC2-5 we then evaluate their antibacterial activities. Establishing first that both maturases exhibit substrate tolerance, we then observed a variation in the antibacterial efficacy between the five isoforms. We established that all RumCs are safe for humans with interesting multifunctionalities. While no synergies where observed for the five RumCs, we found a synergistic action with conventional antibiotics targeting the cell wall. Finally, we identified crucial residues for antibacterial activity of RumC isoforms.

A meta-analysis of pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (ppBMI) and placental DNA methylation from 2631 mother-child pairs identifies 27 CpG sites associated with ppBMI, providing insight into how maternal obesity could be associated with metabolic health outcomes in offspring.

Abstract Background Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with progress in malaria control stalling in recent years. Proactive community case management (pro-CCM) has been shown to increase access to diagnosis and treatment and reduce malaria burden. However, lack of experimental evidence may hinder the wider adoption of this intervention. We conducted a cluster randomized community intervention trial to assess the efficacy of pro-CCM at decreasing malaria prevalence in rural endemic areas of Madagascar. Methods Twenty-two fokontany (smallest administrative unit) of the Mananjary district in southeast Madagascar were selected and randomized 1:1 to pro-CCM (intervention) or conventional integrated community case management (iCCM). Residents of all ages in the intervention arm were visited by a community health worker every 2 weeks from March to October 2017 and screened for fever; those with fever were tested by a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and treated if positive. Malaria prevalence was assessed using RDTs on all consenting study area residents prior to and following the intervention. Hemoglobin was measured among women of reproductive age. Intervention impact was assessed via difference-in-differences analyses using logistic regressions in generalized estimating equations. Results A total of 27,087 and 20,475 individuals participated at baseline and endline, respectively. Malaria prevalence decreased from 8.0 to 5.4% in the intervention arm for individuals of all ages and from 6.8 to 5.7% in the control arm. Pro-CCM was associated with a significant reduction in the odds of malaria positivity in children less than 15 years (OR = 0.59; 95% CI [0.38–0.91]), but not in older age groups. There was no impact on anemia among women of reproductive age. Conclusion This trial suggests that pro-CCM approaches could help reduce malaria burden in rural endemic areas of low- and middle-income countries, but their impact may be limited to younger age groups with the highest malaria burden. Trial registration NCT05223933. Registered on February 4, 2022

Measurement(s) CTmax • Critical thermal maximum • LT50 • Median lethal temperature • Thermal tolerance • Thermal limits Technology Type(s) experimental Factor Type(s) Location • Conservation status • Environmental temperature • Laboratory temperatures • Body size • Ontogeny • Methodological variation Sample Characteristic - Organism Amphibians • Caudata • Amphibia • Frogs • Salamanders • Newts Sample Characteristic - Environment natural environment • laboratory environment Sample Characteristic - Location Global

The ability of organisms to acclimate to high temperatures is increasingly put to test by climate change. This global meta-analysis shows that plasticity of thermal limits in insects is widespread but unlikely to keep pace with climate change.

Context Several options are available for the care of neurological conditions including care delivered in rehabilitation centres, at home or remotely. While economic studies are available comparing centres and homes, very little economic data relates to mobile teams comparing face-to-face and remote care. Objective To conduct an economic study comparing face-to-face care at home and care delivered remotely (tele-rehabilitation). Method A randomised clinical study with two groups; a control group receiving home care and an experimental group receiving tele-rehabilitation. The primary outcome measure was the ICER (Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio). Participants Patients with severe neurological disabilities Results 80 patients were enrolled in the study; 77 were analysed to calculate the ICER, which was positive and located in the SW quadrant. A bootstrap with 1000 replications was positioned at 72.8% in the SW quadrant. Conclusion Tele-rehabilitation is an acceptable alternative to the management of neurological patients at home. In the mildest cases, remote-rehabilitation may even be dominant. More extensive studies are needed to specify the indications.

The relationship between neuroinflammation and cognition remains uncertain in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We performed a cross-sectional study to assess how neuroinflammation is related to cognition using TSPO PET imaging and a multi-domain neuropsychological assessment. A standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) analysis was performed to measure [18F]-DPA-714 binding using the cerebellar cortex or the whole brain as a (pseudo)reference region. Among 29 patients with early AD, the pattern of neuroinflammation was heterogeneous and exhibited no correlation with cognition at voxel-wise, regional or whole-brain level. The distribution of the SUVR values was independent of sex, APOE phenotype, early and late onset of symptoms and the presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. However, we were able to demonstrate a complex dissociation as some patients with similar PET pattern had opposed neuropsychological profiles while other patients with opposite PET profiles had similar neuropsychological presentation. Further studies are needed to explore how this heterogeneity impacts disease progression.

Almodóvar del Pinar, a mediados del siglo XVIII, fue uno de los principales pueblos carreteros castellanos, actividad que aparece en esos momentos como casi exclusiva de sus habitantes. Estudiando específicamente los protocolos notariales de manera serial, se observa la constitución progresiva de la carretería a partir de finales del siglo XVI y su desarrollo rápido durante los primeros años de la centuria siguiente. A pesar de las dificultades económicas y demográficas del siglo XVII y de unos altibajos más o menos duraderos, el acarreo se mantuvo a un nivel alto aprovechando la coyuntura, en especial las guerras que ofrecieron a los carreteros oportunidades importantes. Esto es una de las razones que podrían explicar por qué un lugar como Almodóvar del Pinar se convirtió en pueblo carretero. La demanda monárquica durante los conflictos militares consolidó la carretería que se mantuvo gracias al servicio real.

Coastal infrastructure has reduced habitat complexity and altered light regimes compared to natural habitats, altering ecological communities and reducing overall biodiversity. Although, many studies have assessed effects of infrastructure on the overall biodiversity, these were often restricted in scope, by assessing only a particular type of infrastructure, such as coastal defence structures, or by focusing solely on diversity metrics. Therefore, we still have little knowledge on the functional impacts of infrastructure, in general, on coastal habitats. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the functional composition of natural and artificial marine habitats. We analysed a total of 68 publications from 26 countries, with data collected between 1995–2019. We found up to 60% more habitat-forming algae on natural habitats than on infrastructure at most tidal heights, but no differences were found when looking at all species of macro-algal, i.e. including non-habitat-formers. In contrast, we found more habitat-forming filter feeders, such as oysters and mussels, on subtidal vertical and floating structures, such as pylons and pontoons, respectively, than on natural habitats. Differences on the abundance of grazers varied with tidal height and/or the type of infrastructure. For example, in the subtidal, grazers were significantly more abundant on natural boulders than on infrastructure, while at low tidal heights, we found significantly less grazers on artificial floating structures and on vertical structures than on natural habitats. With coastal development on the rise, these differences have significant implications for productivity, energy and nutrient flow in coastal systems. Our findings highlight the importance of adopting a functional approach to have a more holistic understanding on the environmental impacts associated to marine urbanisation and thus better inform management and restoration efforts.

Abstract Introduction Insula plays an integrating role in sensory, affective, emotional, cognitive and autonomic functions in migraine, especially in migraine with aura (MA). Insula is functionally divided into 3 subregions, the dorsoanterior, the ventroanterior and the posterior insula respectively related to cognition, emotion, and somatosensory functions. This study aimed at investigating functional connectivity of insula subregions in MA. Methods Twenty-one interictal patients with MA were compared to 18 healthy controls (HC) and 12 interictal patients with migraine without aura (MO) and were scanned with functional MRI during the resting state. Functional coupling of the insula was comprehensively tested with 12 seeds located in the right and left, dorsal, middle, ventral, anterior and posterior insula, by using a seed-to-voxel analysis. Results Seed-to-voxel analysis revealed, in MA, a strong functional coupling of the right and left antero-dorsal insula with clusters located in the upper cerebellum. The overlap of these cerebellar clusters corresponded to the vermis VI. These functional couplings were not correlated to duration of MA, frequency of MA attacks nor time since last MA attack, and were not found in MO. Discussion The anterior insula and superior cerebellum, including vermis VI, are components of the central Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) network. As these regions are involved in the control of cardiovascular parasympathetic tone, we hypothesize that this connectivity may reflect the cardiovascular features of MA. Conclusion The anterior dorsal insula is connected with vermis VI in MA patients in the resting state. This connectivity may reflect the cardiovascular features of MA. Trial registration NCT02708797.

Women entering pregnancy with elevated body mass index (BMI) face greater risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy, delivery, and for their offspring later in life, potentially via epigenetics. If epigenetic programming occurs early during in utero development, the differential marks should be detectable in multiple tissues despite the known unique epigenetic profile in each. We used early-pregnancy BMI as reflection of maternal metabolic milieu exposure in peri-conception and early-pregnancy period. We analysed DNA methylation in paired cord blood and placenta samples among 437 newborns from Gen3G, a pre-birth prospective cohort of primarily European descent. We measured DNA methylation in both tissues across the genome in >720,000 CpG sites using the Illumina MethylationEPIC array. At each site, we used linear mixed models (LMMs) with an unstructured variance-covariance matrix to test for an association between maternal early-pregnancy BMI and DNA methylation in both tissues (modelled as M-values). We adjusted for tissue-specific covariates, offspring sex, gestational age at delivery, and maternal smoking and age. Women had a mean (SD) BMI of 25.4 (5.7) kg/m2 measured at first trimester visit (mean=9.9 weeks). Early-pregnancy BMI was associated with differential DNA methylation levels in paired-tissue analyses at two sites: cg10593758 (β=0.0126, SE=0.0025; P=4.07e-7), annotated to CRHBP, and cg0762168 (β=−0.0094, SE=0.0018; P=2.78e-7), annotated to CCDC97. Application of LMMs in DNA methylation data from distinct fetal-origin tissues allowed us to identify CpG sites at which early-pregnancy BMI may have an epigenetic ‘programming’ effect on overall fetus development. One site (CRHBP) may play a role in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation.

Measurement(s) Abundance • Standard length • Wet weight Technology Type(s) Trawl net • ruler-based body length measuring method • Motion compensated balance Sample Characteristic - Organism Actinopteri • Cephalopoda Sample Characteristic - Environment oceanic pelagic zone biome Sample Characteristic - Location Southern Ocean

The aim of this study is to examine Kazakh female students’ interest in STEM professions. A convenient sampling method was used to determine the participants from 10 girls’ schools in Almaty city in Kazakhstan. 522 girls from grades 7th to 11th provided answers to the “STEM Career Interest Survey” which was administered online. Collected data was analyzed to see how girls’ STEM carries interest change according to the type of school and grade level, along with locating the correlations between their interests and their end-term marks in each STEM subject. MANOVA analysis showed that girls’ career interests in different STEM subjects are changing for different school levels across types of schools. Through ANOVA analysis we showed that only girls’ math interest significantly changed across school levels. Post-hoc analyses indicated that seventh level students’ interest in math was statistically higher than eighth and ninth level students. For the school type variable, ANOVA analysis showed that only girls’ technology and engineering interests were significantly different across school types. In other words, girls in Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) were significantly more interested in technology and engineering careers than public school girls while for science and mathematics there was no difference between the two types of schools. Additionally, at the 8th and 11th school levels NIS girls have a higher interest in science while at the 10th level public school girls have higher scores. Finally, we detected significant correlations of modest amplitude between girls’ STEM were analyzed rest and their achievement in physics, math, chemistry, and biology. This study will allow supporting teachers and school administrators in their efforts to encourage girls to pursue STEM studies and careers, and we hope it will also help researchers to orient their efforts in providing them with fertile and durable solutions.

Background: For one of the most chronic medical conditions, osteoarthritis, uncertainties remain on the impact of injury chronology, the role of repeat injury on the incidence/progression of this disease and the need for knee arthroplasty. Objectives: To explore, in an older adult population, how nonsurgical knee injuries relate to osteoarthritis incidence/progression and the weight of independent risk factors for arthroplasty. Design: A cohort study design evaluates the long-term impact of injuries on knee osteoarthritis outcomes. Methods: Knees with no prior injury ( n = 6358) and with at least one injury ( n = 819) ⩽20 years before study inclusion were from the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort. Sociodemographic, clinical and structural [X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] data at study inclusion and changes within 96 months were analysed. Statistics included a mixed model for repeated measurements, generalized estimating equations and multivariable Cox regression with covariates. Results: At inclusion, knees with prior injury demonstrated greater incidence and severity of osteoarthritis ( p ⩽ 0.001). At 96 months, there was a greater increase in symptoms [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, p = 0.002], joint space width (JSW, p = 0.039) loss, medial cartilage volume loss (CVL, p ⩽ 0.001) and bone marrow lesion size (BML, p ⩽ 0.049). Knees with/without injury at inclusion but with new ones over time had a pronounced increase in symptoms (all WOMAC scores, p ⩽ 0.001), JSW loss, lateral (without) and medial CVL, lateral (without) and medial meniscal extrusion and medial BML (without; all p ⩽ 0.030). Levels of lateral and medial meniscal extrusion (without) and symptoms (with/without; all WOMAC scores, p ⩽ 0.001) were all accentuated with a repeated new injury. Risk factors associated with the highest knee arthroplasty occurrence are new meniscal extrusion and new injury ( p ⩽ 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of nonsurgical knee injury in older adults as an independent risk factor for knee osteoarthritis and arthroplasty. These data will be beneficial in clinical practice as they will help identify individuals at greater risk of significant disease progression and worst disease outcomes for a customized therapeutic approach.

BackgroundSince 2018, a dengue epidemic has been raging annually in Reunion Island, which poses the major problem of its morbidity and mortality. However, there is no consensus in the literature on factors associated with severity of illness. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of severe dengue (SD) according to the criteria adopted in 2009 by the World Health Organization (WHO), during the 2019 epidemic.Methodology/principal findingsA total of 163 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed dengue were included in a multicenter prospective cohort study in Reunion Island between January and June 2019. Of these, 37 (23%) were classified as SD, which involves presentation dominated by at least one organ failure, and 126 (77%) classified as non-SD (of which 90 (71%) had warning signs). Confusion, dehydration, and relative hypovolemia were significantly associated with SD in bivariate analysis (p < 0.05). The factors associated with SD in multivariate analysis were a time from first symptom to hospital consultation over 2 days (OR: 2.46, CI: 1.42-4.27), a history of cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.75, 95%CI: 1.57-4.80) and being of Western European origin (OR: 17.60, CI: 4.15-74).Conclusions/significanceThis study confirms that SD is a frequent cause of hospitalization during dengue epidemics in Reunion Island. It suggests that cardiovascular disease, Western European origin, and delay in diagnosis and management are risk factors associated with SD fever, and that restoration of blood volume and correction of dehydration must be performed early to be effective.Trial registrationNCT01099852; clinicaltrials.gov.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and disabling disease that can develop over decades. This disease is heterogeneous and involves structural changes in the whole joint, encompassing multiple tissue types. Detecting OA before the onset of irreversible changes is crucial for early management, and this could be achieved by allowing knee tissue visualization and quantifying their changes over time. Although some imaging modalities are available for knee structure assessment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred. This narrative review looks at existing literature, first on MRI-developed approaches for evaluating knee articular tissues, and second on prediction using machine/deep-learning-based methodologies and MRI as input or outcome for early OA diagnosis and prognosis. A substantial number of MRI methodologies have been developed to assess several knee tissues in a semi-quantitative and quantitative fashion using manual, semi-automated and fully automated systems. This dynamic field has grown substantially since the advent of machine/deep learning. Another active area is predictive modelling using machine/deep-learning methodologies enabling robust early OA diagnosis/prognosis. Moreover, incorporating MRI markers as input/outcome in such predictive models is important for a more accurate OA structural diagnosis/prognosis. The main limitation of their usage is the ability to move them in rheumatology practice. In conclusion, MRI knee tissue determination and quantification provide early indicators for individuals at high risk of developing this disease or for patient prognosis. Such assessment of knee tissues, combined with the development of models/tools from machine/deep learning using, in addition to other parameters, MRI markers for early diagnosis/prognosis, will maximize opportunities for individualized risk assessment for use in clinical practice permitting precision medicine. Future efforts should be made to integrate such prediction models into open access, allowing early disease management to prevent or delay the OA outcome.

Laser additive manufacturing enables economical production of complex lightweight structures. To realize the potential benefits of additive manufacturing technology in industrial applications, the fatigue performance of parts additively manufactured materials must be modelized. The aim of this paper is to present a new modeling approach combining plasticity and damage, and appropriate for as-built Laser-Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) structures. The model presented is an extension of the Dang Van criterion, including damage, defined as porosity in the case of LPBF. Attention is focused on the integration of damage in a fatigue criterion using the concept of elastic shakedown. Finally, the case of 316L will illustrate the results of the model by fatigue tests with deterministic defects.

Background: Posterior fossa tumors represent two thirds of brain tumors in children. Although progress in treatment has improved survival rates over the past few years, long-term memory impairments in survivors are frequent and have an impact on academic achievement. The hippocampi, cerebellum and cerebellar-cortical networks play a role in several memory systems. They are affected not only by the location of the tumor itself and its surgical removal, but also by the supratentorial effects of complementary treatments, particularly radiotherapy. The IMPALA study will investigate the impact of irradiation doses on brain structures involved in memory, especially the hippocampi and cerebellum. Methods/design: In this single-center prospective behavioral and neuro-imaging study, 90 participants will be enrolled in three groups. The first two groups will include patients who underwent surgery for a posterior fossa brain tumor in childhood, who are considered to be cured, and who completed treatment at least 5 years earlier, either with radiotherapy (aggressive brain tumor; Group 1) or without (low-grade brain tumor; Group 2). Group 3 will include control participants matched with Group 1 for age, sex, and handedness. All participants will perform an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests, including an assessment of the main memory systems, and undergo multimodal 3 T MRI. The irradiation dose to the different brain structures involved in memory will be collected from the initial radiotherapy dosimetry. Discussion: This study will provide long-term neuropsychological data about four different memory systems (working memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and procedural memory) and the cognitive functions (attention, language, executive functions) that can interfere with them, in order to better characterize memory deficits among the survivors of brain tumors. We will investigate the correlations between neuropsychological and neuroimaging data on the structural (3DT1), microstructural (DTI), functional (rs-fMRI), vascular (ASL) and metabolic (spectroscopy) impact of the tumor and irradiation dose. This study will thus inform the setting of dose constraints to spare regions linked to the development of cognitive and memory functions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04324450, registered March 27, 2020, updated January 25th, 2021. Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04324450.

Abstract Introduction Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is considered a model of neurodevelopmental disorder because of the high frequency of learning deficits, especially developmental coordination disorder. In neurodevelopmental disorder, Nicolson and Fawcett formulated the hypothesis of an impaired procedural learning system that has its origins in cortico-subcortical circuits. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between cortico-striatal connectivity and procedural perceptual-motor learning performance and motor skills in NF1 children. Methods Seventeen NF1 and 18 typically developing children aged between 8 and 12 years old participated in the study. All were right-handed and did not present intellectual or attention deficits. In all children, procedural perceptual-motor learning was assessed using a bimanual visuo-spatial serial reaction time task (SRTT) and motor skills using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). All participants underwent a resting-state functional MRI session. We used a seed-based approach to explore cortico-striatal connectivity in somatomotor and frontoparietal networks. A comparison between the groups’ striato-cortical connectivity and correlations between connectivity and learning (SRTT) and motor skills (M-ABC) were performed. Results At the behavioral level, SRTT scores are not significantly different in NF1 children compared to controls. However, M-ABC scores are significantly impaired within 9 patients (scores below the 15th percentile). At the cerebral level, NF1 children present a higher connectivity in the cortico-striatal regions mapping onto the right angular gyrus compared to controls. We found that the higher the connectivity values between these regions, differentiating NF1 and controls, the lower the M-ABC scores in the whole sample. No correlation was found for the SRTT scores. Conclusion NF1 children present atypical hyperconnectivity in cortico-striatal connections. The relationship with motor skills could suggest a sensorimotor dysfunction already found in children with developmental coordination disorder. These abnormalities are not linked to procedural perceptual-motor learning assessed by SRTT.

The coupling of methane pyrolysis with the gasification of a solid carbon byproduct provides CO2-free hydrogen and hydrogen-rich syngas, eliminating the conundrum of carbon utilization. Firstly, the various types of carbon that are known to result during the pyrolysis process and their dependencies on the reaction conditions for catalytic and noncatalytic systems are summarized. The synchronization of the reactions’ kinetics is considered to be of paramount importance for efficient performance. This translates to the necessity of finding suitable reaction conditions, carbon reactivities, and catalysts that might enable control over competing reactions through the manipulation of the reaction rates. As a consequence, the reaction kinetics of methane pyrolysis is then emphasized, followed by the particularities of carbon deposition and the kinetics of carbon gasification. Given the urgency in finding suitable solutions for decarbonizing the energy sector and the limited information on the gasification of pyrolytic carbon, more research is needed and encouraged in this area. In order to provide CO2-free hydrogen production, the reaction heat should also be provided without CO2. Electrification is one of the solutions, provided that low-carbon sources are used to generate the electricity. Power-to-heat, i.e., where electricity is used for heating, represents the first step for the chemical industry.

The clinical characteristics and epidemiology of Q fever in the Tropics are poorly described. We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized cases between 2004 and 2017 in Reunion Island. Acute Q fever was defined in presence of a positive serology (phase II IgG ≥ 200 and phase II IgM ≥ 50), or a seroconversion (4-fold increase in phase II IgG between paired samples), or a positive PCR (blood or serum). Forty-two cases matched the diagnostic criteria. The most common clinical manifestations were fever (85.7%) and pulmonary symptoms (61.9%), including pneumonia (45.2%). Ninety percent of the patients were living in a farming area. Cumulative incidence was estimated at 9.3 per 100,000 inhabitants (95%CI: 6.4–12.1) with cases diagnosed yearly all throughout the study period except in 2006. Together with the seroprevalence figures, these data suggest that Q fever reaches low to moderate endemic levels on Reunion Island. As previously reported, pulmonary symptoms are in the foreground.

Abstract Background During pregnancy, maternal metabolism undergoes substantial changes to support the developing fetus. Such changes are finely regulated by different mechanisms carried out by effectors such as microRNAs (miRNAs). These small non-coding RNAs regulate numerous biological functions, mostly through post-transcriptional repression of gene expression. miRNAs are also secreted in circulation by numerous organs, such as the placenta. However, the complete plasmatic microtranscriptome of pregnant women has still not been fully described, although some miRNA clusters from the chromosome 14 (C14MC) and the chromosome 19 (C19MC and miR-371-3 cluster) have been proposed as being specific to pregnancy. Our aims were thus to describe the plasma microtranscriptome during the first trimester of pregnancy, by assessing the differences with non-pregnant women, and how it varies between the 4th and the 16th week of pregnancy. Methods Plasmatic miRNAs from 436 pregnant (gestational week 4 to 16) and 15 non-pregnant women were quantified using Illumina HiSeq next-generation sequencing platform. Differentially abundant miRNAs were identified using DESeq2 package (FDR q-value ≤ 0.05) and their targeted biological pathways were assessed with DIANA-miRpath. Results A total of 2101 miRNAs were detected, of which 191 were differentially abundant (fold change 2, FDR q-value ≤ 0.05) between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Of these, 100 miRNAs were less and 91 miRNAs were more abundant in pregnant women. Additionally, the abundance of 57 miRNAs varied according to gestational age at first trimester, of which 47 were positively and 10 were negatively associated with advancing gestational age. miRNAs from the C19MC were positively associated with both pregnancy and gestational age variation during the first trimester. Biological pathway analysis revealed that these 191 (pregnancy-specific) and 57 (gestational age markers) miRNAs targeted genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, ECM-receptor interaction and TGF-beta signaling pathways. Conclusion We have identified circulating miRNAs specific to pregnancy and/or that varied with gestational age in first trimester. These miRNAs target biological pathways involved in lipid metabolism as well as placenta and embryo development, suggesting a contribution to the maternal metabolic adaptation to pregnancy and fetal growth.