R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing
... Estimations of increased TB risk (HR) were accompanied by 95% confidence intervals (CI). All data were managed and analyzed using R program version 4.2.3 [24]. ...
... Shapefile from GADM database (https://gadm.org) was used as the map's polygon under a CC-BY license. The map was created using the R program version 4.2.3[24].https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312139.g002 ...
In June 2022, Thailand legalized recreational cannabis. Currently, cannabis is now the most consumed drug. Cannabis usage can increase inflammatory responses in the respiratory tract. Sharing of cannabis waterpipes has been linked to increased tuberculosis risks. Using a national in-patient databank, we aimed to 1) describe the spatiotemporal correlation between cannabis-related and tuberculosis hospital admissions, and 2) compare the rate of subsequent pulmonary tuberculosis admission between those with prior admissions for cannabis-related causes and those without. Both admission types were aggregated to the number of admissions in monthly and provincial units. Temporal and spatial patterns were visualized using line plots and choropleth maps, respectively. A matched cohort analysis was conducted to compare the incidence density rate of subsequent tuberculosis admission and the hazard ratio. Throughout 2017–2022, we observed a gradual decline in tuberculosis admissions, in contrast to the increase in cannabis-related admissions. Both admissions shared a hotspot in Northeastern Thailand. Between matched cohorts of 6,773 in-patients, the incidence density rate per 100,000 person–years of subsequent tuberculosis admissions was 267.6 and 165.9 in in-patients with and without past cannabis-admission, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, we found that a cannabis-related admission history was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.48 (P = 0.268) for subsequent tuberculosis admission. Our findings failed to support the evidence that cannabis consumption increased pulmonary tuberculosis risk. Other study types are needed to further assess the association between cannabis consumption and pulmonary tuberculosis.
... A three-way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) in open-source statistical software R [46] was used to analyse variation of growth inhibition for all tested species in different soil types under the 8 herbicide application doses. After performing the factorial data analysis, a twoway analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to observe the interaction effect of soil types and crops on the variation of growth inhibition at the label rate. ...
While diuron residues are being detected more frequently in agricultural soils, there is limited information available regarding their potential phytotoxicity to non-target grain crops. This study aims to determine robust phytotoxicity thresholds for three common, but contrasting, crop species (canola, chickpea, and wheat) exposed to a range of diuron concentrations and to determine how loamy sand soil can change the toxicity thresholds relative to an inert sand. The log-logistic non-linear regression model proved most effective in determining toxicity thresholds by analysing crop responses to diuron. Canola was the most sensitive to diuron in sand followed by wheat and chickpea. Diuron exhibits higher phytotoxicity in sand compared to loamy sand, with ED50 values (which is the dose at which diuron causes a 50% decrease in plant growth) of 0.03 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.07 mg kg⁻¹ for canola shoot biomass inhibition and 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.06 mg kg⁻¹ for root dry weight reduction, respectively. The ED50 values for wheat shoot biomass (0.11 and 0.24 mg kg⁻¹) in sand and loamy sand, respectively, and the ED50 values for root growth inhibition are 0.14 mg kg⁻¹ in sand and 0.19 mg kg⁻¹ in loamy sand. These values were lower than label concentrations and previously estimated average and maximum diuron residue loads (0.17 and 0.29 mg kg⁻¹) in Western Australia paddocks. The larger ED50 values of diuron in the loamy sand can be attributed to higher soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity that decreased bio-available diuron levels. Average diuron residue loads in Western Australia crop fields exceed the ED50 value emphasizes the need for careful planning of crop rotations to avoid crop phytotoxicity from soil-borne diuron residues. Further study is needed to determine the effect of a wider range of soil properties such as pH, clay content, and soil organic matter on the phytotoxicity risk of diuron to rotational crops.
... Data processing and analysis were conducted using R [20]. ...
... Data manipulation and analysis were conducted in R using the tidyverse package library [14,15]. Graphics were prepared in R using ggplot2 [16], and maps were illustrated using ArcGIS Pro 3.2.0 ...
Trachoma recrudescence is a serious concern for trachoma control programs. Programs define recrudescence as the return of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) prevalence above elimination threshold (≥5%) on district-level trachoma surveillance surveys (TSSs). This study aimed to determine potential correlates of trachoma recrudescence within a historically highly endemic region. Between 2015 and 2021, population-based TSSs were conducted in 51 districts of Amhara, Ethiopia. District estimates were calculated accounting for multistage design; logistic regression was used to estimate the association of key correlates with recrudescence at the district level. Among the 51 districts, 17 (33%) were recrudescent. Correlates of recrudescence included indicators of historic trachoma burden, such as higher trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI) prevalence (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6, CI: 1.4–5.3) and higher Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection prevalence (OR: 2.9, CI: 1.1–9.9) at the first recorded impact survey. The increased prevalence of children with clean faces (OR: 0.4, CI: 0.21–1.0) and the increased prevalence of travel time to a water source ≤ 30 min (OR: 0.5, CI: 0.2–1.1) at the TSS were associated with a protective effect from recrudescence. Data on historical trachoma burden as well as current water and sanitation conditions may help programs predict where recrudescence is more likely to occur and thus help programs sustain elimination as a public health problem.
... The same scan location was selected in every plot, and the distributions of both attributes were calculated for every scan that was taken on that location (six scans in total, one for every PRR in both up and tilt positions). The analyses were done in R v4.3.0 [14], using the data.table v1.14.8 package [15]. ...
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides highly detailed 3D information of forest environments but is limited to small spatial scales, as data collection is time consuming compared to other remote sensing techniques. Furthermore, TLS data collection is heavily dependent on wind conditions, as the movement of trees negatively impacts the acquired data. Hardware advancements resulting in faster data acquisition times have the potential to be valuable in upscaling efforts but might impact overall data quality. In this study, we investigated the impact of the pulse repetition rate (PRR), or pulse frequency, which is the number of laser pulses emitted per second by the scanner. Increasing the PRR reduces the scan time required for a single scan but decreases the power (amplitude) of the emitted laser pulses commensurately. This trade-off could potentially impact the quality of the acquired data. We used a RIEGL VZ400i laser scanner to test the impact of different PRR settings on the point cloud quality and derived tree structural metrics from individual tree point clouds (diameter, tree height, crown projected area) as well as quantitative structure models (total branch length, tree volume). We investigated this impact across five field plots of different forest complexity and canopy density for three different PRR settings (300, 600 and 1200 kHz). The scan time for a single scan was 180, 90 and 45 s for 300, 600 and 1200 kHz, respectively. Differences among the raw acquired scans from different PRR replicates were largely removed by several necessary data processing steps, notably the removal of uncertain points with a low reflectance attribute. We found strong agreement between the individual tree structural metrics derived from each of the PRR replicates, independent of the forest complexity. This was the case for both point cloud-based metrics and those derived from quantitative structural models (QSMs). The results demonstrate that the PRR in high-end TLS instruments can be increased for data collection with negligible impact on a selection of derived structural metrics that are commonly used in the context of aboveground biomass estimation.
... 4.0.3 [35] and by the use of the following packages: xdoParallel v. 1.0.17 [36], ggRandomForests v. 2.2.1 [37,38], and randomForest-SRC [39,40]. ...
Background
Nowadays, obesity has become a major health issue. In addition to negatively affecting body composition and metabolic health, recent evidence shows unfavorable shifts in gut microbiota in individuals with obesity. However, the effects of weight loss on gut microbes and metabolites remain controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week program on gut microbiota and metabolic health in patients with obesity.
Methods
We conducted a controlled trial in 23 male and female patients with obesity. Twelve participants completed a 12-week program of caloric restriction combined with strength and HIIT training (INT, pre-BMI 37.33 ± 6.57 kg/m²), and eleven participants were designated as non-intervention controls (pre-BMI 38.65 ± 8.07 kg/m²). Metagenomic sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene from fecal samples allowed for gut microbiota classification. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy characterized selected serum and fecal metabolite concentrations.
Results
Within INT, we observed a significant improvement in body composition; a significant decrease in liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and GMT); a significant increase in the relative abundance of the commensal bacteria (e.g., Akkermansia muciniphila, Parabacteroides merdae, and Phocaeicola vulgatus); and a significant decrease in the relative abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria (e.g., the genera Butyrivibrio, Coprococcus, and Blautia). In addition, significant correlations were found between gut microbes, body composition, metabolic health biomarkers, and SCFAs. Notably, the Random Forest Machine Learning analysis identified predictors (Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Blautia caecimuris, Coprococcus comes, and waist circumference) with a moderate ability to discriminate between INT subjects pre- and post-intervention.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that a 12-week caloric restriction combined with strength and HIIT training positively influences body composition, metabolic health biomarkers, gut microbiota, and microbial metabolites, demonstrating significant correlations among these variables. We observed a significant increase in the relative abundance of bacteria linked to obesity, e.g., Akkermansia muciniphila. Additionally, our study contributes to the ongoing debate about the role of SCFAs in obesity, as we observed a significant decrease in SCFA producers after a 12-week program.
Trial registration
The trial was registered on [05/12/2014] with ClinicalTrials.gov (No: NCT02325804).
... Volumetric data were imported into the R statistical environment 153 . Summary statistics were then calculated. ...
Neurodevelopmental disorders are thought to arise from intrinsic brain abnormalities. Alternatively, they may arise from disrupted crosstalk among tissues. Here we show the local reduction of two vestibulo-cerebellar lobules, the paraflocculus and flocculus, in mouse models and humans with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). In mice, this paraflocculus/flocculus dysplasia is associated with haploinsufficiency of the Tbx1 gene. Tbx1 haploinsufficiency also leads to impaired cerebellar synaptic plasticity and motor learning. However, neural cell compositions and neurogenesis are not altered in the dysplastic paraflocculus/flocculus. Interestingly, 22q11DS and Tbx1+/– mice have malformations of the subarcuate fossa, a part of the petrous temporal bone, which encapsulates the paraflocculus/flocculus. Single-nuclei RNA sequencing reveals that Tbx1 haploinsufficiency leads to precocious differentiation of chondrocytes to osteoblasts in the petrous temporal bone autonomous to paraflocculus/flocculus cell populations. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized pathogenic structure/function relation in 22q11DS in which local skeletal deformity and cerebellar dysplasia result in behavioral deficiencies.
... Anatomical location of the primary tumour was divided into the following four tumour locations: lung, head, and neck (reference); colorectal, oesophageal, and stomach; breast; and other. Analyses were performed with the R program version 4.2.3 [44]. All determinants showed significant differences in one or more QLQ-COMU26 areas. ...
Purpose
This study aims to identify a combination of clinical, demographic, and patient competence determinants of patients’ communication with doctors and nurses in an international sample of cancer patients.
Methods
For our cross-sectional study, cancer patients assessed their communication with their doctors or nurses at the start of their treatment. Patients completed EORTC communication questionnaire QLQ-COMU26 to assess ten areas of communication with their doctor or nurses plus another item to assess how competent they felt when communicating with professionals. Bivariable analyses and multivariable linear regression models were performed separately for each QLQ-COMU26 area.
Results
Included in the study were 988 patients from 15 centres in 13 countries (five cultural areas). Higher age was related to higher level of communication in eight QLQ-COMU26 areas. Males reported higher level of communication in three areas. Lower levels of studies and higher level of perceived competence when communicating with professionals were related to higher level of communication in the ten QLQ-COMU26 areas. Communication was of a higher level with nurses than with doctors in four areas. Having received previous treatment with the same doctor or group of nurses was related to higher communication levels in seven areas. Lack of comorbidity was related to higher communication levels in two areas. Various differences in determinants were found among tumour sites.
Conclusion
Our regression model has shown several relationships between communication and the demographic and clinical variables that may help identify patients at risk of poor communication. Future studies could focus on communication at diagnosis and in follow-up, and on areas such as assessing the particularities of communication between patient and professionals in relation to cancer type.
... Data analysis and presentation. All analyses were performed in R using R Statistical Software (v4.2.1; R Core Team) [115] and in Linux run on the Imperial College Research Computing Service HPC facility (DOI: 10.14469/hpc/2232). ...
Outbreaks of fungal diseases have devastated plants and animals throughout history. Over the past century, the repeated emergence of coffee wilt disease caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium xylarioides severely impacted coffee production across sub-Saharan Africa. To improve the disease management of such pathogens, it is crucial to understand their genetic structure and evolutionary potential. We compared the genomes of 13 historic strains spanning 6 decades and multiple disease outbreaks to investigate population structure and host specialisation. We found that F. xylarioides comprised at least 4 distinct lineages: 1 host-specific to Coffea arabica, 1 to C. canephora var. robusta, and 2 historic lineages isolated from various Coffea species. The presence/absence of large genomic regions across populations, the higher genetic similarities of these regions between species than expected based on genome-wide divergence and their locations in different loci in genomes across populations showed that horizontal transfers of effector genes from members of the F. oxysporum species complex contributed to host specificity. Multiple transfers into F. xylarioides populations matched different parts of the F. oxysporum mobile pathogenicity chromosome and were enriched in effector genes and transposons. Effector genes in this region and other carbohydrate-active enzymes important in the breakdown of plant cell walls were shown by transcriptomics to be highly expressed during infection of C. arabica by the fungal arabica strains. Widespread sharing of specific transposons between F. xylarioides and F. oxysporum, and the correspondence of a putative horizontally transferred regions to a Starship (large mobile element involved in horizontal gene transfers in fungi), reinforce the inference of horizontal transfers and suggest that mobile elements were involved. Our results support the hypothesis that horizontal gene transfers contributed to the repeated emergence of coffee wilt disease.
... have 'Scripting and languages' as main category-315 in total (Fig 2A). Within this category, R [20] is the most frequent tag with 268 repositories, followed by Python with 100 repositories (Fig 2C). This suggests that the R language is a popular language to teach and therefore probably to learn. ...
A wealth of excellent training and educational materials for the computational life sciences are scattered around the Internet, but they can be hard to find. Many materials reside in public Git repositories that are hosted on platforms such as GitHub and GitLab. Glittr.org is a manually curated database of Git repositories, which enables users to find educational materials that would otherwise be hard to identify. With the application, users can search and compare educational materials based on topic and author, but also on engagement metrics such as stargazers (bookmarks) and recency (days since last commit). Glittr.org currently contains 664 entries, which are assigned to six different categories within the domain of computational life sciences. By analysing the database, we reveal insights in the availability of materials per topic, collaboration patterns of developers, and licensing practices. This knowledge helps to understand in which areas open educational materials are scant, the importance of Git for collaboration on educational materials and how licensing can be improved to enhance sharing and reuse. Taken together, we show that Glittr.org contains a wealth of connected and openly available metadata. Therefore, it enhances adherence to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, which benefits learners, teachers and trainers in the entire life sciences community and beyond.
Urbanisation generally leads to a loss of taxonomic and functional diversity in almost all animal taxa, yet a mosaic of highly variable habitats within the urban matrix could offer a diversity of insect prey to highly mobile predators such as bats. We therefore asked if insect-feeding bats change in trophic interactions along rural–urban gradients.
We predicted that the diet of common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) diversifies with increasing levels of urbanisation and that urban bats include more pest and nuisance insect species than rural conspecifics.
Using metabarcoding of faecal samples over three years of sampling, we observed a more diverse diet in urban compared with rural noctule bats. Furthermore, urban bats consumed more than twice as many agricultural pests and six times as many nuisance insects as their rural conspecifics. Finally, insect species richness in the diet decreased with increasing levels of sealed surface and vegetation cover at the sampling site.
We argue that a highly mobile bat species such as the noctule bat compensate for the lower abundance of insects in urban areas by foraging over relatively large spatial scales, including adjacent rural areas. A high proportion of pest and nuisance insects highlights the importance of urban bats for providing important ecosystem services to humans. Urban planning needs to consider maintaining and establishing dark flight corridors and a diversity of habitats to support urban bat populations.
The importance of data sharing in organizational science is well-acknowledged, yet the field faces hurdles that prevent this, including concerns around privacy, proprietary information, and data integrity. We propose that synthetic data generated using machine learning (ML) could offer one promising solution to surmount at least some of these hurdles. Although this technology has been widely researched in the field of computer science, most organizational scientists are not familiar with it. To address the lack of available information for organizational scientists, we propose a systematic framework for the generation and evaluation of synthetic data. This framework is designed to guide researchers and practitioners through the intricacies of applying ML technologies to create robust, privacy-preserving synthetic data. Additionally, we present two empirical demonstrations using the ML method of generative adversarial networks (GANs) to illustrate the practical application and potential of synthetic data in organizational science. Through this exploration, we aim to furnish the community with a foundational understanding of synthetic data generation and encourage further investigation and adoption of these methodologies. By doing so, we hope to foster scientific advancement by enhancing data-sharing initiatives within the field.
Context Melatonin administration during pregnancy can influence fetal development and lactation. Aims This study aimed to verify whether melatonin treatment of pregnant Sarda ewes in spring improved lamb weight at birth, 7 and 21 days of age, time to first colostrum intake, birth behavior and survival. Additionally, we examined melatonin’s effect on milk yield and composition. Methods On 18 April, 200 ewes were assigned to two groups of 100 each, based on lambing date, body condition score, parity, age and milk yield. One group received melatonin implants on 20 April, 4 July and 17 September; the other served as control. Rams (12 per group) were introduced on 25 May and removed after 40 days. Lamb weight was recorded at birth, 7 and 21 days, while milk yield and composition were assessed bi-weekly from day 30 of lactation. Key results Lambs born to melatonin-treated ewes were heavier at birth (3.54 vs 2.89 kg), and at 7 (5.21 vs 4.40 kg) and 21 days of age (11.3 vs 10.1 kg) and reached colostrum intake sooner than lambs from untreated ewes (55.5 ± 5.3 vs 69.4 ± 5.6 min). Milk yield was higher in melatonin-treated ewes, with somatic cell counts decreasing in treated animals and increasing in controls over the five samplings. Milk fat was higher in treated ewes than controls during early lactation, although protein and lactose levels remained similar between groups. Conclusion Melatonin treatment throughout pregnancy improved lamb growth and milk production and quality, suggesting a potential management advantage for sheep.
Estuaries are a key component of the land‐sea continuum, and their microbial diversity depends on the connection with terrestrial ecosystems. This work aimed to demonstrate that the terrestrial matter carried by rivers influences the structuration of microeukaryote communities of superficial (0–3 cm) sediments collected at the interface between the land and marine coastal areas. To demonstrate this hypothesis, we have chosen the main island of New Caledonia as a study site, a French overseas territory located in the South West Pacific. Using amplicon sequencing of the 18S‐V4 rDNA extracted from sediments, we analyzed microeukaryote community composition in relation to numerous environmental parameters. Samples were collected in five bays influenced by riverine inputs and corresponding to distinct geological features of the watersheds, as revealed by high variations in metal concentrations released from specific minerals in the sediment. Particularly, the influence of ultramafic soils was highlighted by higher nickel concentration (correlated to Co, Cr, Mn, and Fe). Diatoms were the dominant taxonomic group, especially the classes of Bacillariophyceae and Mediophyceae. Then Apicomplexa, Ciliophora, Dinoflagellata, and Cercozoa followed. The metallic composition of the sediment explained 18.46% of the community spatial variability. The selection of ASVs based on their contribution to beta diversity and their correlation with metallic concentrations enabled us to identify spatial patterns. This information could lead to identifying microeukaryote bioindicators of terrestrial influences, particularly of ultramafic origin. We hypothesized that the association between microeukaryotes and metallic compositions is linked to selection processes, given the resistance of some microeukaryotes to some high metallic concentrations. In vitro experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis. Our results emphasized the role of terrestrial inputs in shaping estuarine diversity and the need to consider the entire land–sea continuum for studying these ecosystems.
INTRODUCTION
Childhood adversity harms neurodevelopment. Literature on late‐life brain health is limited, and findings on late‐life cognition are mixed.
METHODS
Pooling data from Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) and Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR) cohorts, we assessed the impact of childhood adversity (factor score from seven self‐reported items) on (a) executive function and verbal memory decline using linear mixed effects models (n = 2447), (b) structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using linear regression (n = 618), and (c) amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) using generalized linear models (n = 331), all adjusting for early‐life demographic and socioeconomic confounders.
RESULTS
Childhood adversity was not associated with cognition except for a slightly faster decline in verbal memory (β̂ = −0.013 SD/year, 95% confidence interval [−0.025, −0.001]). Among neuroimaging outcomes, childhood adversity was associated with only larger temporal lobe volumes (β̂ = 0.092 SD [0.012, 0.173]).
DISCUSSION
More research evaluating sources of resilience, heterogeneity, and bias is needed to explain inconsistent findings across studies.
Highlights
We developed measurement models to capture childhood adversity in a diverse cohort.
Childhood adversity was associated with a slightly faster verbal memory decline.
We examined childhood adversity's effect on structural MRI and amyloid PET measures.
Higher childhood adversity was associated with larger temporal lobe volumes.
Aim: Amphibians are particularly sensitive to rapid climatic shifts, due to their eco-physiology, life history traits and high frequency of narrowly distributed species. The genus Speleomantes encompasses the only extant Western Palearctic plethodontids, with three species occurring in peninsular Italy and the remaining five endemic to Sardinia Island. Given the restricted ranges of Speleomantes species and their vulnerability to environmental change, we implemented Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) to estimate the likely impacts of various global warming scenarios on the extent and geographical location of climatically suitable areas.
Time Period: Current, with ENMs projected to 2030, 2050 and 2070 under alternative Shared Socioeconomic Pathways.
Location: Italian Peninsula and Sardinia Island.
Major Taxa Studied: Speleomantes Dubois 1984 (Caudata: Plethodontidae).
Methods: Ensembles of ENMs were fitted for each Speleomantes species, using the 'biomod2' modelling platform in R environment. Then, post-modelling analyses were applied in GIS environment to highlight: (i) the primary geographic direction of predicted suitability shifts for each species and (ii) the proportion of stable, gained and lost suitable areas for each genetic lineage of the single species.
Results: We found a noticeable shrinking of suitable areas for all Speleomantes species, being particularly extensive under 'business-as-usual' scenarios for the Sardinian ones. Moreover, core suitable areas were predicted to shift for most species and suitability losses emerged to differently affect distinct genetic lineages, posing additional challenges for designing effective conservation measures.
Main Conclusions: The predicted shrinkage and shifting of climatically suitable areas for most Speleomantes species point to the urgency of evaluating in due time alternative conservation strategies for these endemic urodeles, to prevent losses of taxonomic and genetic diversity. Our modelling framework may be applied to other species with similar traits (e.g., low dispersal ability and narrow environmental niche breadth) to predict climate-induced range contractions or shifts, using the gained information to optimise conservation outcomes.
The pseudo-observations approach has been gaining popularity as a method to estimate covariate effects on censored survival data. It is used regularly to estimate covariate effects on quantities such as survival probabilities, restricted mean life, cumulative incidence, and others. In this work, we propose to generalize the pseudo-observations approach to situations where a bivariate failure-time variable is observed, subject to right censoring. The idea is to first estimate the joint survival function of both failure times and then use it to define the relevant pseudo-observations. Once the pseudo-observations are calculated, they are used as the response in a generalized linear model. We consider two common nonparametric estimators of the joint survival function: the estimator of Lin and Ying (1993) and the Dabrowska estimator (Dabrowska, 1988). For both estimators, we show that our bivariate pseudo-observations approach produces regression estimates that are consistent and asymptotically normal. Our proposed method enables estimation of covariate effects on quantities such as the joint survival probability at a fixed bivariate time point, or simultaneously at several time points, and consequentially can estimate covariate-adjusted conditional survival probabilities. We demonstrate the method using simulations and an analysis of two real-world datasets.
RESUMO: Em análises estatísticas de experimentos de germinação de sementes, é essencial garantir que as pressuposições dos métodos escolhidos não sejam violadas para obter resultados válidos e confiáveis. Quando essas pressuposições são violadas, métodos alternativos devem ser considerados, um dos quais é a análise de sobrevivência. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a aplicação desta metodologia, usando uma abordagem não paramétrica, para avaliar a germinação de Cecropia pachystachya e Jacaranda caroba. No primeiro experimento, temperaturas alternadas de 30/20 °C e 25/15 °C foram utilizadas sob duas condições de luz (claro e escuro). No segundo, a germinação foi avaliada em temperaturas constantes variando de 15 a 35 °C. A germinação atingiu ou ultrapassou 50% em ambas as espécies sob temperaturas e condições de luz alternadas. No escuro contínuo, J. caroba exibiu maior velocidade e porcentagem de germinação, enquanto C. pachystachya não foi afetada pelas condições de luz. A temperatura alternada recomendada para ambas as espécies foi de 30/20 °C. As melhores temperaturas constantes foram 25 °C para J. caroba e 30 °C para C. pachystachya. Conclui-se que a técnica de análise de sobrevivência não paramétrica discrimina efetivamente a germinação de sementes das espécies estudadas. Termos para indexação: Cecropia pachystachya, dados censurados, Jacaranda caroba, fotoperíodo, temperatura. ABSTRACT: In statistical analyses of seed germination experiments, it is essential to ensure that the assumptions of the chosen methods are not violated to obtain valid and reliable results. When these assumptions are violated, alternative methods should be considered, one of which is survival analysis. This study aimed to evaluate the application of this methodology, using a nonparametric approach, to assess the germination of Cecropia pachystachya and Jacaranda caroba. In the first experiment, alternating temperatures of 30/20 °C and 25/15 °C were applied under two light conditions (light and darkness). In the second, germination was assessed at constant temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 °C. Germination reached or exceeded 50% in both species under alternating temperatures and light conditions. In continuous darkness, J. caroba exhibited a higher germination speed and percentages, whereas C. pachystachya was unaffected by light conditions. The recommended alternating temperature for both species was 30/20 °C. The optimal constant temperatures were 25 °C for J. caroba and 30 °C for C. pachystachya. It is concluded that the nonparametric survival analysis technique effectively discriminates seed germination of the studied species.
To identify the breeding season of Pool barb, Puntius sophore through observation of the gonadosomatic index (GSI), fecundity, oocytes diameter, and gonadal histology of the species and to suggest management recommendations, the reproductive biology was studied with individuals of the population from Rajdhala beel, Netrakona from July 2020 to June 2021. The fish specimens were collected monthly using a seine net. Three methods were employed to determine the spawning season. It is worth mentioning that, the monthly mean gonadosomatic index was found highest in June. Since the mean gonadosomatic index was highest in June, therefore it was opined that the spawning took place in June apparently. Various developmental stages of ovaries were classified considering their external features and the macroscopic views of eggs. The stages were immature, developing, maturing, and spawning. External morphology and macroscopic observation of female gonads showed that the spawning season of pool barb was between March and June. The microscopic examinations of gonad histology detected the presence of five stages of oocyte maturity which were early perinucleolus, yolk vesicle stage, primary yolk stage, migratory nucleus stage, and premature stage. Monthly plotting of percent data of histological stages revealed that the most advanced stage detected in this study occurred in April, May, and June. Based on histological investigation it was eventually concluded that the spawning season of P. sophore existed from April to June. Postovulatory follicles and hydrated eggs were absent in the mature ovaries over the study period which gave the support that P. sophore was a synchronous single spawner. The study also demonstrated that the standard length of the youngest female that bore mature eggs was 3056 mm, and its gonadosomatic index was 7.48. The range of relative fecundity was from 540 to 4352 per gm of mature females in terms of standard length having a range from 56 mm to 92 mm. Standard length and fecundity yielded a cubic relationship, the equation was F= 0.0232SL2.6877 (r2 = 0.8683). The relationship between fecundity and body weight was in the form of a straight line, and the estimated equation was F = 213.44BW + 125.24 (r2 = 0.892). High values of coefficients of determination in both cases described strong relationships between predictor and response variables in fecundity estimation.
Heterotrophic bacteria can contribute to improve stream water quality by taking up nitrate (NO3⁻) from the water column, although microbial demand for this nutrient is usually lower than for other inorganic nitrogen (N) forms, such as ammonium. Heterotrophic NO3⁻ uptake has been related to the availability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) relative to nutrients (i.e., DOC: nutrients ratios). Yet, how dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and specific microbial assemblages influence NO3⁻ uptake remains poorly understood. We conducted laboratory incubations to investigate heterotrophic NO3⁻ uptake kinetics in 9 Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems, primarily headwater streams, exhibiting wide variation in DOC:NO3 ratios (from 1.5 to 750). Moreover, we characterized DOM composition using spectroscopic indexes and its degradation via a reactivity continuum model approach. Microbial community composition and functioning were assessed by analyzing extracellular enzymatic activities and the potential abundance of N‐cycling genes. Our results revealed that NO3⁻ uptake rates (kNO3) were positively related with DOC:NO3 ratios (r² = 0.4) and to NO3:SRP ratios as well (r² = 0.6). Furthermore, kNO3 was negatively correlated to the humification index (r² = 0.7), suggesting that a higher proportion of humic‐like compounds slow down heterotrophic NO3⁻ uptake. A partial least squares regression model (PLS) pinpointed that DOC and nutrient stoichiometry, DOM composition and reactivity, and microbial composition and activity collectively contributed to explain the variability in kNO3 observed across treatments. Our findings suggest that heterotrophic NO3⁻ uptake may show significant responsiveness to shifts toward more labile DOM sources and nutrient imbalances induced by global change.
Climate change and land use are intensifying wildfires in the Brazilian Pantanal, altering the dynamics of natural grasslands. Grasslands subjected to burning can experience turnover in species composition depending on fire intensity and frequency. Understanding species persistence and regeneration strategies is essential for predicting when and where fire-induced changes in plant communities may occur. Our objective was to evaluate how fire affects the seedling stage and influences survival and development, and reproductive traits. We exposed seedlings of the grass Setaria parviflora to fire and then assessed seedling performance ( e.g. , survival rate, regrowth speed) and adult plant characteristics ( e.g ., reproduction speed, seed number per spikelet) of the surviving plants compared to those of a control group without fire exposure. We also evaluated attributes related to survival, such as culm length, leaves, architecture (tillers), and roots. The survival rate was high (77%), with regrowth speed increasing after the third day post-fire. Plants that regrew after the fire had longer roots and more tillers (± 3) compared to the control group, showing significant differences. In contrast, the control group had longer culms. Regrowth attributes reflect the primary strategy for species maintenance, and despite the faster reproduction, seed production was low. Our findings suggest that fire during the seedling stage reduces the number of seeds produced, even though it enhances reproduction speed, modifies plant architecture, and increases regeneration potential through rhizomes.
Introduction
Previous research has tended to focus on early-life education for dementia risk reduction, yet there are great gains for building cognitive reserve in mid- to later-life through educational interventions. ISLAND (Island Study Linking Ageing and Neurodegenerative Disease) Campus offered free university study to all ISLAND participants, with flexible in-person/online learning models to remove educational, socioeconomic and geographical barriers. Here the core hypothesis of ISLAND Campus was investigated: that engagement in later life education leads to improvements in modifiable risk factors for dementia, cognition and blood-based biomarkers.
Methods
ISLAND Campus participants were matched on age and gender to non-Campus participants via propensity score method, with optimal matching based on logistic regression. Participants completed online surveys on health, demographics, modifiable dementia risk factors via a customized Dementia Risk Profile (DRP) tool and provided blood samples for APOE genotyping and plasma phosphorylated-tau (p-tau). Cognition was measured online via the validated Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Paired Associates Learning (PAL) and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) tasks. Impact of the opt-in formal educational intervention was tested in R via ANCOVA.
Results
Total participants were 986 (interventio n = 492, control = 492), mean age of 61.2 years, 73.2% female, 11.7 mean years of education and 25.0% APOE e4+. Over 4 years of follow-up, intervention participants significantly improved working memory (SWM) and their risk factor profiles as measured via the DRP ( p < 0.001), indicating a significant change towards lower dementia risk. Intervention and control participants were similar on socioeconomic status, location of residence, p-tau and APOE e4 presence, however Campus participants displayed a significantly higher proportion of prior university study completion (76.0%) than controls (60.0%). Intervention participants enrolled in a variety of university degrees, the most common were Diploma of Family History ( n = 103, 20.9%), Diploma of Arts ( n = 74, 15.0%) and Diploma of Fine Arts ( n = 52, 10.5%).
Discussion
ISLAND Campus has shown how free later-life university education was associated with improvements in modifiable dementia risk factors over time and cognition. Given opt-in intervention participants were significantly more likely to have a prior university education, later life formal educational interventions should be targeted at individuals with lower prior education.
This study addresses the challenge of predicting Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) density in cornfields by developing an artificial neural network (ANN). Over two years, we collected data on meteorological variables (atmospheric pressure, air temperature, dew point, rainfall, relative humidity, solar irradiance, and wind speed), plant age, and density of D. maidis in cornfields located in two Brazilian biomes (Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Tropical Savannah). Out of 1056 ANNs tested, the neural network featuring a 30-day time lag, six neurons, logistic activation, and resilient propagation demonstrated the lowest root mean squared error (0.057) and a high correlation (0.919) with observed D. maidis densities. This ANN exhibited an goodness of fit in low-density (Atlantic Forest) and high-density (Brazilian Tropical Savannah) scenarios for D. maidis. Critical factors influencing D. maidis seasonal dynamics, including corn plant age, rainfall, average air temperature, and relative humidity, were identified. This study highlights the potential of the ANN as a promising tool for precise predictions of pest seasonal dynamics, positioning it as a valuable asset for integrated pest management programs targeting D. maidis.
Photosymbioses, in which unicellular autotrophs reside within heterotrophic hosts, are critical ecological interactions in terms of global biomass, species diversity and primary production. Such associations are under threat from environmental warming; while specific impacts, particularlyin the coral-zooxanthellae interaction, arethoroughly documented, ecologists lack a general theoretical framework describing the impacts of temperature change on photo-symbiotic interactions. Here, i apply principles of the metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) to assess the metabolic basis of the temperature-induced disruption of photosymbiosis in the microbial Paramecium bursaria — Chlorella spp. association. In contrast to the general predictionthat net autotrophy should decrease with temperature, this microbial photosymbiosis harboured larger algalsymbiont populationsand consumed fewer prey with warming, suggestive of increased net autotrophywith warming — a pattern that held across strains isolated from three different continents. This observation appeared to be a simple consequence of the response of symbiont growth rate. I conclude that a metabolic framework for photosymbiosis may prove insightful, but the ecological dynamics of the associations (e.g. mixotrophic strategy) must be considered in tandem.
The European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is a major forest pest in Europe, with outbreaks intensifying due to climate change-induced weather events. In this study, we evaluated within-tree densities of the spruce bark beetle and its natural enemies during an outbreak in northern Europe. Densities were compared across different forest management types: managed forests and two conservation areas (woodland key habitats and nature reserves). We assessed beetle colonization density, production, reproductive success, predator abundance, and forest characteristics through bark sample analysis during four years. Our results indicate that spruce bark beetle densities were positively associated with surrounding tree mortality, with no significant differences in within-tree densities across forest types. Instead, variations in density were more pronounced across different outbreak phases and forest conditions, derived from remote sensing data. Enemy abundance, particularly Ple-gaderus spp. and two fungivorous insect groups, were generally higher in nature reserves compared to managed forests. We conclude that complex interactions between forest conditions, outbreak phases, and the occurrence of some specific predators play more crucial roles in bark beetle dynamics than whether a forest is a conservation area or not. For example, in wetter forests, more beetles are needed to overcome defences, while in deciduous forests, non-host volatiles may inhibit pheromones. Specifically, we highlight the less known clown beetle Ple-gaderus spp. as an important predator, negatively affecting bark beetle reproductive success. These findings emphasize the importance of local forest characteristics in managing bark beetle infestations, suggesting that infestation risk assessments should focus on these variables rather than on forest conservation status, though potential variations at larger scales are beyond the scope of our study.
Background: Rose - ringed parakeets are popular pet birds worldwide. This study aimed to determine hematological and biochemical reference intervals for healthy Rose - ringed parakeets to help in the monitoring and early detection of diseases, preserving the health of birds and humans. Materials, Methods & Results: Blood samples were collected from 58 healthy adult Rose - ringed parakeets (33 males and 25 females) aged 5 - 10 years. The birds’ health was assessed based on health history, physical examinations, and fecal examinations. Hematological and plasma biochemical analyses were conducted on the collected samples. The blood samples were collected from jugular vein with heparinized syringes. Blood smears were made immediately after the blood collection, and the samples were then packaged and sent to the laboratory. Hematological and biochemical analyses were performed within a maximum of 12 and 24 h after collection, respectively. The following biochemical profiles were analyzed: renal (uric acid), hepatic (GGT and AST), proteinogram (total protein, albumin, and globulin), muscular (AST, CK, and LDH), lipidic (total cholesterol and triglycerides), and electrolytes (calcium and phosphorus). Shapiro - Wilk test was used for normality analysis. The reference ranges were calculated using the package reference intervals R. The difference between males and females was analyzed using the Student t - test or the Mann - Whitney U test. The reference intervals for hematological parameters were as follows: RBC: 1.91 - 3.64 × 106/µL; PCV: 41.19% - 53.98%; HGB: 7.9 - 16.1 g/dL; MCV: 128.4 - 210.68 fL; MCH: 24.85 - 56.15 pcg; MCHC: 19 - 31.62 g/dL; WBC: 1.0 - 8.0 × 103/μL; heterophils: 0.134 - 4.678 × 103/μL; lymphocytes: 0.368 - 3.213 × 103/μL; monocytes: 0.033 - 1.440 × 103/μL; eosinophils: 0 × 103/μL; basophils: 0 - 0.760 × 103/µL; and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio: 0.12 - 2.97. The reference intervals for biochemical parameters were as follows: uric acid: 1.51 - 15.33 mg/dL; albumin: 1.04 - 2.64 g/dL; AST: 62.99 - 485.76 U/L; calcium: 6.79 - 10.18 mg/dL; CK: 321 - 3,279.51 U/L; total cholesterol: 191.15 - 446.49 mg/dL; phosphorus: 2.67 - 8.05 mg/dL; GGT: 7.2 - 29.37 U/L; globulin: 1.12 - 2.05 g/dL; LDH: 213.78 - 768.6 U/L; total protein: 2.7 - 4.2 g/dL; total plasma protein: 3.28 - 5.1 g/dL; and triglycerides: 41.1 - 502.02 mg/dL. No significant difference was observed between males and females for any parameters, except for the relative monocyte count, which was higher in males. Discussion: The results obtained in this study were based on a large number of birds. On erythrogram, differences between erythrocytes and hemoglobin were noted when compared with studies involving smaller populations (n = 16 and n = 20). These differences may be attributed to factors, such as age, breeding status, seasonal variation, and environmental factors. The hematocrit values were like another report with Rose - ringed parakeets (n = 16). On leukogram, the heterophils were more numerous, followed by lymphocytes. Eosinophils were rarely found. In the renal profile, uric acid values of 1.51 - 15.33 mg/dL were found, with no previous data specifically about uric acid in Rose - ringed parakeets but are considered within normal in birds range values up to 10 mg/dL. Higher values may have been influenced by the commercial formulated diet. On hepatic profile, GGT values were higher to that previously reported, but AST values were similar. On muscular profile, CK values were high and may be explained by physical restraint and containment stress. The lipidic profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) was influenced by diet, workout, climate, and hormones. Calcium and phosphorus values were higher than other reports. Calcium may vary with reproductive status, season. Diet may vary the phosphorus values. The values established in this report contribute to the diagnosis, control, and monitoring of diseases in Rose - ringed parakeets. Keywords: Ring - necked parakeet, psittacine, clinical pathology, avian, avian medicine, exotic pets.
Tima has a typologically unusual 12-vowel advanced tongue root (ATR) harmony system, contrasting six [+ATR] vowels /i e ɨ ʌ o u/ with six [−ATR] vowels /ɪ ɛ ɘ a ɔ ʊ/. This harmony system provides a test case for generalisations about ATR systems: for example, that [−ATR] is less compatible with higher vowels; that [+ATR] is less compatible with lower vowels and that central vowels are incompatible with [ATR] systems. After showing that all vowels participate fully in ATR harmony, this article presents an acoustic study of the Tima ATR contrast. We show that /ʌ/, the [+ATR] counterpart of /a/, patterns as a mid vowel, and that duration and voice quality differences characterise Tima’s crowded vowel inventory. Though F1 is the primary individual correlate of the ATR contrast, as is true cross-linguistically, a number of measures support voice quality differences as well, as predicted by the Laryngeal Articulator Model account of ATR systems.
In modern nonmarine settings, previous studies have demonstrated the importance of elevation-correlated ecological gradients, but such studies tend to focus on relatively small areas and only one higher taxon. Here, we analyze Global Biodiversity Information Facility occurrence records from a wide variety of taxa across the southeastern U.S. coastal plain. Many taxa display ecological gradients (gradients in proportional or relative abundance) correlated with elevation, distance to the coast, and latitude. These gradients tend to be steepest within a few tens of kilometers near the coast and at elevations less than 25 m. Some taxa, notably terrestrial mammals, do not display gradients correlated with elevation and distance to the coast. The small sample sizes of these groups and their heterogeneous sampling raise concerns about whether sufficient data exist. Coupled with previous studies of these ecological gradients, their common presence over distances of tens to hundreds of kilometers and elevations of tens to hundreds of meters suggests they are likely important in the nonmarine fossil record. Because elevation and distance to the coast change predictably with cycles of accommodation and sediment flux, these ecological gradients are predicted to occur in the nonmarine stratigraphic record, especially through intervals that record transgression or regression. Such gradients will affect the local composition of species associations and occurrences, even in the absence of regional species origination, immigration, and extinction and of regional change in the structure of ecological gradients. The ordination of taxon counts in stratigraphically limited samples has great potential for establishing their existence.
Precipitation plays a fundamental role in tropical regions, influencing human, economic, and environmental activities. Knowledge of the characteristics of this climatological variable is essential for planning and monitoring the impacts caused by rain, and one way to analyze changes is to monitor the evolution of the percentiles of the precipitation probability density function. Thus, the objective was to check for significant changes in the rainfall regime in Recife-PE, classify rainfall according to its intensity, and highlight the frequencies of extreme events that occurred. The data were obtained from the Pernambuco Water and Climate Agency. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to check whether the precipitation belonged to the same station and whether they were significant, then modeled by the Weibull distribution. The modeling proved to be effective for events of up to 100 mm and in the classification of rainfall. Statistically, the rainfall between 1993 and 2023 differed from those between 1962 and 1992, indicating changes in rainfall behavior. Notably, over the past 30 years, there has been an increase in the frequency of rainfall extremes with an intensity equal to or greater than 36.90 mm. These results provide support for planning public policies, with regard to reducing the negative impacts caused by rainfall.
An assumption in ecology is that plant identity plays a central role in the assembly of root‐colonising arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities. While numerous correlational studies support this notion, with evidence of host selectivity among fungal taxa and host‐specific responses to different AM fungi, empirical demonstrations of host‐driven AM fungal community assembly remain surprisingly limited.
We conducted a factorial experiment growing two globally significant crop species, wheat (Triticum aestivum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), with a common pool of AM fungal species, or without AM fungi. We hypothesised strong differences in AM fungal community structure between the two species driven by strong habitat filtering. Plants were harvested at two time points in which we analysed the community structure of AM fungi in the roots, the phylogenetic diversity, and interactions with plant physiological responses.
As we expected, there were distinct trajectories in both the composition and phylogenetic diversity of AM fungal communities between the two host plants through time. However, the effect of habitat filtering during community assembly differed between the two species. In sorghum roots, AM fungal communities exhibited increased richness and became more phylogenetically clustered over time. This shift suggests that community assembly was primarily driven by habitat filtering, or selectivity, imposed by the host which was accompanied by significant increases in plant mycorrhizal growth (from 11.83% to 43.67%) and phosphorus responses (from −0.6% to 43.3%). In contrast, AM fungal communities in wheat displayed little change in diversity, remained phylogenetically unstructured, and provided minimal benefits to the host, indicating a more stochastic assembly process with a stronger influence of competitive interactions.
As the field looks to understand what determines the distribution of AM fungi and their community composition while simultaneously seeking to utilise AM fungi for ecosystem benefits, it is important to know the extent to which host identity can influence fungal assembly within plant roots. Our results provide empirical support of host‐determinism in AM fungal community assembly and suggest that this determinism is associated with the growth and nutrient benefits provided by the symbiosis to plants.
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While cities are attractive places, brimming with opportunities and possibilities for their inhabitants, they have also been found to have negative consequences, especially on physical and mental health. In a world of ever-growing urban populations, it is important to understand how to make cities healthier and more pleasant places to live. In the present study, we investigated the impact of art as an urban intervention and compared it to the well-known effects of greenery (i.e., plants and vegetation) in an identically framed intervention. Specifically, we looked at how people engage with a Graetzloase (a type of parklet) and its embedding urban environment in terms of visual and spatial attraction as well as wellbeing. The Graetzloase displayed either abstract art or greenery and was placed on two distinct streets that, among other elements, also contained art and greenery. Our field study captured the ongoing experiences during people’s exploration of the urban environment by employing mobile eye-trackers and physiological devices. While our findings demonstrated a certain level of visual and spatial attraction towards the Graetzloases, it was not as pronounced as initially anticipated. Nevertheless, our analyses still inform on What decorating element should be placed in a Graetzloase, as well as Where to implement the Graetzloase. Our results suggest that artistic elements are more visually attractive (i.e., they were looked at for longer times) than the greenery, and that both visual and spatial attraction towards the Graetzloases are greatly impacted by the street context. We found that the Art Graetzloase when displayed in a wide street containing greenery elements, is visually more present in the participant’s visual field than all the other experimental combinations. The more precise analyses of the participant viewing behavior confirm this trend. Regarding wellbeing, we found no evidence for the impact of street context or the types of decorations in the Graetzloases. Our results establish an initial empirical foundation for the design and placement of not only future parklets but also urban art interventions in general.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate lenition, a phonological process involving consonant weakening, as a diagnostic marker for differentiating Parkinson’s Disease (PD) from Atypical Parkinsonism (APD). Early diagnosis is critical for optimizing treatment outcomes, and lenition patterns in stop consonants may provide valuable insights into the distinct motor speech impairments associated with these conditions. Methods: Using Phonet, a machine learning model trained to detect phonological features, we analyzed the posterior probabilities of continuant and sonorant features from the speech of 142 participants (108 PD, 34 APD). Lenition was quantified based on deviations from expected values, and linear mixed-effects models were applied to compare phonological patterns between the two groups. Results: PD patients exhibited more stable articulatory patterns, particularly in preserving the contrast between voiced and voiceless stops. In contrast, APD patients showed greater lenition, particularly in voiceless stops, coupled with increased articulatory variability, reflecting a more generalized motor deficit. Conclusions: Lenition patterns, especially in voiceless stops, may serve as non-invasive markers for distinguishing PD from APD. These findings suggest potential applications in early diagnosis and tracking disease progression. Future research should expand the analysis to include a broader range of phonological features and contexts to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Introduction: The study of emotional intelligence (EI) has garnered significant attention due to its relevance to diverse age- and population-groups, and persons of various social and academic backgrounds. The capacity for an individual to effectively understand and manage one’s own emotions and understand and manage the emotions of others has been identified as important life skill and antecedent to personal, social, and professional success. While the dimensionality of EI has been explored extensively in Western contexts, there is a relative dearth of research in post-Soviet and Central Asian contexts. Methodology: Building upon the EI instrumentation developed in Russia by Lyusin and a large sample of adolescents (N = 658) from 12 schools, we find very little differences in average levels of EI in the schools sampled. Thereafter, using first-order confirmatory factor analysis, this study finds evidence for a Four-Factor Model of EI inclusive of Understanding and Managing One’s Own Emotions, and Understanding and Managing Others’ Emotions. Results: The model exhibits adequate model fit, discriminant validity, inter-factor correlations similar to those in other studies, and is strongly invariant for gender (though partially invariant for language). We also find evidence for female adolescents exhibiting slightly higher levels of Understanding Other’s Emotions, and lower levels of Managing Own Emotions. Conclusions: The four-factor model may be a useful tool for gauging the EI of adolescents, though further research as to its utility in other post-Soviet, Central Asian, and other contexts is required.
Introducción: El estudio de la inteligencia emocional (IE) ha suscitado una atención significativa debido a su relevancia para diversos grupos de edades y poblaciones, así como para personas de diferentes contextos sociales y académicos. La capacidad de un individuo para comprender y gestionar eficazmente sus propias emociones, así como comprender y manejar las emociones de los demás, se ha identificado como una habilidad vital y un antecedente del éxito personal, social y profesional. Aunque la dimensionalidad de la IE se ha explorado ampliamente en contextos occidentales, existe una relativa falta de investigación en contextos post-soviéticos y en Asia Central. Metodología: Basándonos en una herramienta construida en Rusia por Lyusin y en una muestra amplia de adolescentes (N = 658) de 12 escuelas, encontramos muy pocas diferencias en la media de la IE las escuelas muestreadas. Utilizando un análisis factorial confirmatorio de primer orden, este estudio encontró evidencia de un modelo de IE de cuatro factores que incluye la comprensión y gestión de las propias emociones, así como la comprensión y gestión de las emociones de los demás. Results: El modelo presenta un ajuste de modelo adecuado, validez discriminante, correlaciones entre factores similares a las de otros estudios, así como una sólida invarianza según el género (aunque parcialmente invariance para el idioma). También encontramos evidencia de que las adolescentes muestran niveles ligeramente más altos de comprensión de las emociones de los demás y niveles más bajos de gestión de sus propias emociones. Conclusión: El modelo de cuatro factores puede ser una herramienta útil para medir la IE de los adolescentes, aunque se requieren más investigaciones sobre su utilidad en otros contextos postsoviéticos, de Asia Central y más allá.
Metaphylaxis or treating the entire population of cattle at arrival with an antimicrobial has been studied extensively in the cattle industry; however, little information is available on the impacts of treating only a proportion of the population with antimicrobials at arrival. The study objective was to determine potential associations between the proportion of animals in a pen treated with antimicrobial therapy with pen performance and nasopharyngeal microbiome. Yearling steers (n = 160) were randomly allocated to study pens (n = 40) and pens were systematically randomized to one of two antimicrobial treatments (META: all four head received tulathromycin; MIXED: two of four head randomly selected to receive tulathromycin). The study was conducted in conjunction with an essential oil feeding trial. Deep nasal pharyngeal (DNP) swabs were collected from every steer at Days 0, 14, 28, and 56. All DNP swabs were individually cultured for Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica. Samples of DNA were extracted from DNP swabs, pooled by pen, and analyzed by metagenomic shotgun sequencing to compare nasopharyngeal microbiome composition and quantity of resistance genes between test groups. Neither antimicrobial nor essential oil treatment groups had any significant associations with performance or DNP microbiome. Sampling day was significantly associated with alpha and beta diversity at the species level. Shannon’s diversity and Inverse Simpson diversity were significantly lower on Day 14 versus both Day 0 and Day 56. These data indicated a shift in microbial populations across study days; however, the microbiome diversity and relative abundance were not significantly different between antimicrobial treatment groups.
The increasing scarcity of grazing land and the rising density of livestock pose significant challenges to goat production, particularly for small-scale farmers who depend on these animals for their livelihoods. This study extends existing research on alternative feeding systems by investigating the global relevance of feeding strategies-stall-feeding, semi-grazing, and grazing-on the performance and profitability of three Pakistani goat breeds: Makhi Cheeni, Barbari, and nondescript. A total of 243 goats were systematically assigned to treatment groups, ensuring nutritional balance through calculated nutritional and chemical compositions of Pennisetum purpureum and concentrated feeds. The study assessed performance metrics, including weight gain, body condition score (BCS), and blood parameters, aiming to identify globally applicable, breed-specific feeding strategies for optimal production in the Pothohar Valley, a region characterized by its wet climate. Results demonstrated that Makhi Cheeni and nondescript goats achieved the highest weight gains under stall-feeding (1.50 and 1.20 kg/week, respectively), with outcomes statistically comparable to those in the semi-intensive system (p > 0.05). Grazing produced the lowest weight gains for these breeds (1.08 and 0.81 kg/week, p < 0.05). In contrast, Barbari goats showed no significant difference in weight gain across the feeding systems. Moreover, Makhi Cheeni goats recorded the highest BCS under stall-feeding (2.83), whereas grazing led to the lowest BCS (2.37, p < 0.05). Blood analysis indicated lower total cholesterol levels in Makhi Cheeni goats under semi-intensive grazing systems compared to stall-feeding (p < 0.01), pointing to possible dietary insufficiencies. This research highlights the importance of breed-specific feeding strategies, with Makhi Cheeni goats particularly benefiting from stall feeding in terms of growth, health, and cholesterol metabolism. The findings not only address local challenges but also offer insights that could be valuable for improving goat production systems globally.
Tool use is taxonomically associated with high behavioural flexibility and innovativeness, and its prevalence is greater in primates and some bird species. This association, however, is not known to be causally determinant of tool-related competence since flexibility and innovativeness are often observed in the absence of tool use and vice versa. For this reason, it is interesting to explore whether animals that can be loosely categorized as outstanding, or ‘intelligent’ physical problem solvers, are also remarkable using tools innovatively, rather than tool use presenting special constraints. We investigate this problem using plush-crested jays (Cyanocorax chrysops), a corvid new to cognitive research that shows highly flexible and inquisitive behaviour in the wild and has not been reported to use tools. We tested jays in two tasks of apparent similar manipulative complexity and incentive, one involving a tool (T) and the other not (NT). In the NT task birds had to open a box with a transparent lid blocked by a latch to get a reward, whereas in the T task, they had to use a rake to pull out the reward from the box. Eight out of nine subjects succeeded in the NT task, whereas none of them learned to solve the T task. This is consistent with tool use involving dedicated competencies, rather than just high problem-solving proficiency.
Purpose
Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) procedures from single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography imaging have been registered in the Western Denmark Heart Registry (WDHR) since 2017 as a sub-registry (WDHR-MPI). The aim was to review the content, quality, and research potential of the WDHR-MPI and assess the completeness and validity of its key variables.
Patients and Methods
Using the Danish National Patient Registry (DNPR) as a reference, we calculated the completeness of procedure registration as the proportion of procedures registered in the WDHR-MPI from 2017 to 2021. We defined completeness of variable registration as the proportion of non-missing values for a given variable and examined it for 38 key variables. We assessed validity by estimating the positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for 26 selected key variables using corresponding extracted information from 300 randomly selected patient records.
Results
We identified 19,084 procedures in 17,871 patients from all seven cardiac centers performing nuclear cardiology procedures in the WDHR uptake area. The registry accumulated 4000–6000 procedures each year from 2019 to 2021. The overall completeness of procedure registration was 72% (95% CI 72–73), increasing from 14% (95% CI 13–15) in 2017 to 98% (95% CI 98–98) in 2021. The mean completeness of variable registration was 89%. The validity of entered data was high, with an overall PPV for the selected key variables of 95% (95% CI 94–95) and NPV of 94% (95% CI 93–96).
Conclusion
The WDHR-MPI is one of the largest systematic MPI cohorts. The overall high completeness and validity of the data support its potential for cardio-epidemiological research.
Worldwide, freshwater vertebrate populations are declining with increasing pressure on rivers due to numerous environmental and climatic threats. Environmental DNA (eDNA) could potentially provide a more efficient and non‐invasive mechanism to monitor freshwater systems, either as a complement or in replacement to traditional methods to accurately assess species' distributions. Here, we utilize a hierarchical multispecies N‐mixture model to compare three fish sampling methods: traditional fyke netting and active and passive environmental DNA sampling along a 30 km stretch of the Canning River in Western Australia. We used the fitted model to compare capture probabilities among sampling methods and reveal the sampling effort required to describe the species assemblage. Results indicated that while all methods could detect fish, combined eDNA methodologies detected one more fish species than those caught by fyke netting. In addition, active eDNA sampling produced the highest capture probabilities and more consistently described the entire fish assemblage at any given site. Fyke netting and passive eDNA did not show significant differences in their average capture probabilities, and both methods had lower abilities to capture individual species than active eDNA. Active eDNA also required fewer replicate samples to detect the expected observed richness, and fyke netting required the most replicates. Additionally, a hierarchical multispecies abundance model showed that active environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling is the most effective method for monitoring freshwater fish populations. This study contributes to our understanding of eDNA in aquatic systems and demonstrates that, at least under current conditions, active sampling is still the preferred method in freshwater systems with low flow compared to both passive sampling and fyke netting.
High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) provides new opportunities for efficiently dissecting the genetic basis of drought-adaptive traits, which is essential in current wheat breeding programs. The combined use of HTP and genome-wide association (GWAS) approaches has been useful in the assessment of complex traits such as yield, under field stress conditions including heat and drought. The aim of this study was to identify molecular markers associated with yield (YLD) in elite durum wheat that could be explained using hyperspectral indices (HSIs) under drought field conditions in Mediterranean environments in Southern Spain. The HSIs were obtained from hyperspectral imagery collected during the pre-anthesis and anthesis crop stages using an airborne platform. A panel of 536 durum wheat lines were genotyped by sequencing (GBS, DArTseq) to determine population structure, revealing a lack of genetic structure in the breeding germplasm. The material was phenotyped for YLD and 19 HSIs for six growing seasons under drought field conditions at two locations in Andalusia, in southern Spain. GWAS analysis identified 740 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) across all the durum wheat chromosomes, several of which were common for YLD and the HSIs, and can potentially be integrated into breeding programs. Candidate gene (CG) analysis uncovered genes related to important plant processes such as photosynthesis, regulatory biological processes, and plant abiotic stress tolerance. These results are novel in that they combine high-resolution hyperspectral imaging at the field scale with GWAS analysis in wheat. They also support the use of HSIs as useful tools for identifying chromosomal regions related to the heat and drought stress response in wheat, and pave the way for the integration of field HTP in wheat breeding programs.
Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are self-assembled protein structures often utilized by bacteria as a modular metabolic unit, enabling the catalysis and utilization of less common carbon and nitrogen sources within a self-contained compartment. The ethanolamine (EA) utilization (eut) BMC has been widely demonstrated in enteropathogens, such as Salmonella enterica , and current research is exploring its activity in the commensal species that populate the human gut. Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is a strong colonizer and probiotic in gut microbial communities and has been used extensively for microbiome engineering. In this study, the utilization of ethanolamine as a sole carbon source and the formation of the eut BMC in EcN were demonstrated through growth assays and visualization with transmission electron microscopy. Subsequently, flux balance analysis was used to further investigate the metabolic activity of this pathway. It was found that not only is the utilization of the eut BMC for the degradation of EA as a carbon source in EcN comparable with that of Salmonella enterica but also that ammonium is released into solution as a byproduct in EcN but not in S. enterica . Control of EA-dependent growth was demonstrated using different concentrations of the operon inducer, vitamin B 12 . We show that vitamin B 12 -dependent EA utilization as the sole carbon source enables growth in EcN, and demonstrate the concurrent formation of the BMC shell and inducible control of the eut operon.
IMPORTANCE
The human gut is a complex environment of different bacterial species, nutrient sources, and changing conditions that are essential for human health. An imbalance can allow for the emergence of opportunistic pathogens. Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are utilized by bacteria to metabolize less common nutrients, conferring a growth advantage. Although widely studied in enteropathogens, there is limited research on BMC activity in commensal species. We demonstrate the formation of the eut BMC and utilization of ethanolamine as a carbon source in the human gut commensal Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). Additionally, we found increased ammonium production when EcN utilized ethanolamine but did not see the same in Salmonella enterica , highlighting potential differences in how these species affect the wider microbial community.
Purpose
The present study explored the extent to which early prelinguistic communication skills predict expressive language in toddlers with autistic siblings (Sibs-autism), who are known to be at high likelihood for autism and language disorder, and a comparison group of toddlers with non-autistic older siblings (Sibs-NA).
Method
Participants were 51 toddlers (29 Sibs-autism, 22 Sibs-NA) aged 12–18 months at the first time point in the study (Time 1). Toddlers were seen again 9 months later (Time 2). Three prelinguistic communication skills (i.e., intentional communication, vocalization complexity, and responding to joint attention) were measured at Time 1 via the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile–Behavior Sample. An expressive language aggregate was calculated for each participant at Time 2. A series of correlation and multiple regression models was run to evaluate associations of interest between prelinguistic communication skills as measured at Time 1 and expressive language as measured at Time 2.
Results
Vocalization complexity and intentional communication displayed significant zero-order correlations with expressive language across sibling groups. Vocal complexity and responding to joint attention did not have significant added value in predicting later expressive language, after covarying for intentional communication across groups. However, sibling group moderated the association between vocalization complexity and later expressive language, such that vocal complexity displayed incremental validity for predicting later expressive language, covarying for intentional communication, only within Sibs-NA.
Conclusions
Results indicate that prelinguistic communication skills, in particular intentional communication, show promise for predicting later expressive language in siblings of autistic children. These findings provide additional empirical support for the notion that early preemptive interventions targeting prelinguistic communication skills, especially intentional communication, may have the potential to scaffold language acquisition and support more optimal language outcomes in this population at high likelihood for a future diagnosis of both autism and language disorder.
Supplemental Material
https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27745437
People with branched attractions may experience sexual and romantic attractions to different genders; for example, they may be sexually attracted to one gender and romantically attracted to another gender. Because branched attractions may violate folk theories about sexuality, we expected individuals with these attractions to face unique stereotypes. Across three preregistered experiments (total N = 1041), and using predominantly White, non-Latiné, and straight samples, we asked if White (Studies 1 and 2) and East Asian (Study 3) targets with branched attractions are seen as: (1) confused, dishonest, and non-monogamous (bi stereotypes), (2) uncertain about and in denial of their sexuality (instability stereotypes), and (3) desired as sexual objects (fetishized), compared to targets with aligned (same-gender, other-gender, bisexual) attractions. We also assessed warmth toward targets, and explored perceivers’ need for cognition as a moderator. As expected, White and East Asian women and men with branched attractions faced heightened bi and instability stereotypes, whereas findings with warmth, fetishization, and need for cognition were mixed. Discussion considers the implications of these findings for sexually and racially minoritized individuals.
The baseball remains unchanged across age groups. This study investigated how ball size impacts throwing patterns to establish if youth players might benefit from using more appropriately sized balls. Throwing patterns for 79 participants (11 ± 2 years; 1.48 ± 0.18 m; 44.1 ± 16.2 kg) were video recorded for three different ball conditions: standard (ST), scaled (SC), and preferred (PR). Each ball was thrown three times into a target net set at 3 m, and a composite score for each was determined. 82.3% of participants preferred a ball smaller than ST, however, their preferred ball choice was not influenced by hand size (−2 Log likelihood = 233.676, χ 2 (1) = 2.44, p = .118). Total score was significantly higher for the PR compared to the ST ball (p = .015), and there was a notable main effect of ball size on the throw's stride component (p = .026). Ball size influenced throwing pattern, with the PR ball scoring highest amongst all three conditions. Since 82.3% of participants preferred a ball smaller than ST, there appears to be a strong case for using smaller balls for youth baseball. Doing so could prove advantageous to performance, and reduce the incidence of overuse injuries. ARTICLE HISTORY
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