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Physiological and biochemical processes underlying the differential sucrose yield and biomass production in sugarcane varieties
- Tamires Da Silva Martins, José R. Magalhães Filho, Larissa Prado Cruz, Daniela F. S. P. Machado, Norma M. Erismann, Rose M. A. Gondim-Tomaz, Paulo E. R. Marchiori, André L. B. O. Silva, Eduardo Caruso Machado, Rafael Vasconcelos Ribeiro
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- Experimental Agriculture / Volume 60 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 May 2024, e13
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Sucrose yield in sugarcane is a complex process regulated by both environmental and endogenous factors. However, the metabolic balance driving vegetative growth and sucrose accumulation remains poorly understood. Herein, we carried out a comprehensive assessment of carbohydrate dynamics throughout the crop cycle in two sugarcane varieties varying in biomass production, evaluating the carbon metabolism in both leaves and stalks. Our data revealed that the decline in photosynthetic rates during sugarcane maturation is associated not only to accumulation of sugars in leaves but also due to stomatal and non-stomatal limitations. We found that metabolic processes in leaves and stalks were intrinsically linked. While IACSP94-2094 had higher stalk sucrose concentration than IACSP95-5000, this latter produced more biomass. Compared to IACSP95-5000, IACSP94-2094 showed higher sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity in leaves and stalks, along with lower soluble acid invertase (SAI) activity in leaves during the maximum growth stage. Interestingly, IACSP94-2094 also exhibited higher stalk SPS activity and lower stalk SAI activity than IACSP95-5000 during maturation. High biomass production by IACSP95-5000 was associated with higher sucrose synthase (SuSy) and SAI activity in leaves and higher SuSy and soluble neutral invertase (SNI) activity in stalks when compared to IACSP94-2094 during the maximum growth. Despite the contrasting strategies, both varieties displayed similar total sucrose yield, a balance between sucrose concentration and biomass production. This phenomenon implies the presence of a compensatory mechanism in sugarcane, with high biomass production compensating low sucrose accumulation and vice versa.
Distinct evolutionary lineages of Schistocephalus parasites infecting co-occurring sculpin and stickleback fishes in Alaska
- David C. Heins, Kristine N. Moody, Martin C. Arostegui, Brian S. Harmon, Michael J. Blum, Thomas P. Quinn
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- Parasitology , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 May 2024, pp. 1-8
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Sculpins (coastrange and slimy) and sticklebacks (ninespine and threespine) are widely distributed fishes cohabiting 2 south-central Alaskan lakes (Aleknagik and Iliamna), and all these species are parasitized by cryptic diphyllobothriidean cestodes in the genus Schistocephalus. The goal of this investigation was to test for host-specific parasitic relationships between sculpins and sticklebacks based upon morphological traits (segment counts) and sequence variation across the NADH1 gene. A total of 446 plerocercoids was examined. Large, significant differences in mean segment counts were found between cestodes in sculpin (mean = 112; standard deviation [s.d.] = 15) and stickleback (mean = 86; s.d. = 9) hosts within and between lakes. Nucleotide sequence divergence between parasites from sculpin and stickleback hosts was 20.5%, and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis recovered 2 well-supported clades of cestodes reflecting intermediate host family (i.e. sculpin, Cottidae vs stickleback, Gasterosteidae). Our findings point to the presence of a distinct lineage of cryptic Schistocephalus in sculpins from Aleknagik and Iliamna lakes that warrants further investigation to determine appropriate evolutionary and taxonomic recognition.
Alcohol milestones and internalizing, externalizing, and executive function: longitudinal and polygenic score associations
- Sarah E. Paul, David A.A. Baranger, Emma C. Johnson, Joshua J. Jackson, Aaron J. Gorelik, Alex P. Miller, Alexander S. Hatoum, Wesley K. Thompson, Michael Strube, Danielle M. Dick, Chella Kamarajan, John R. Kramer, Martin H. Plawecki, Grace Chan, Andrey P. Anokhin, David B. Chorlian, Sivan Kinreich, Jacquelyn L. Meyers, Bernice Porjesz, Howard J. Edenberg, Arpana Agrawal, Kathleen K. Bucholz, Ryan Bogdan
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 May 2024, pp. 1-14
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Background
Although the link between alcohol involvement and behavioral phenotypes (e.g. impulsivity, negative affect, executive function [EF]) is well-established, the directionality of these associations, specificity to stages of alcohol involvement, and extent of shared genetic liability remain unclear. We estimate longitudinal associations between transitions among alcohol milestones, behavioral phenotypes, and indices of genetic risk.
MethodsData came from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (n = 3681; ages 11–36). Alcohol transitions (first: drink, intoxication, alcohol use disorder [AUD] symptom, AUD diagnosis), internalizing, and externalizing phenotypes came from the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism. EF was measured with the Tower of London and Visual Span Tasks. Polygenic scores (PGS) were computed for alcohol-related and behavioral phenotypes. Cox models estimated associations among PGS, behavior, and alcohol milestones.
ResultsExternalizing phenotypes (e.g. conduct disorder symptoms) were associated with future initiation and drinking problems (hazard ratio (HR)⩾1.16). Internalizing (e.g. social anxiety) was associated with hazards for progression from first drink to severe AUD (HR⩾1.55). Initiation and AUD were associated with increased hazards for later depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (HR⩾1.38), and initiation was associated with increased hazards for future conduct symptoms (HR = 1.60). EF was not associated with alcohol transitions. Drinks per week PGS was linked with increased hazards for alcohol transitions (HR⩾1.06). Problematic alcohol use PGS increased hazards for suicidal ideation (HR = 1.20).
ConclusionsBehavioral markers of addiction vulnerability precede and follow alcohol transitions, highlighting dynamic, bidirectional relationships between behavior and emerging addiction.
VaTEST III: Validation of eight potential super-earths from TESS data
- Priyashkumar Mistry, Aniket Prasad, Mousam Maity, Kamlesh Pathak, Sarvesh Gharat, Georgios Lekkas, Surendra Bhattarai, Dhruv Kumar, Jack J. Lissauer, Joseph D. Twicken, Abderahmane Soubkiou, Francisco J. Pozuelos, Jon Jenkins, Keith Horne, Steven Giacalone, Khalid Barkaoui, Mathilde Timmermans, Cristilyn N. Watkins, Ramotholo Sefako, Karen A. Collins, David R. Ciardi, Catherine A. Clark, Boris S. Safonov, Avi Shporer, Joshua E. Schlieder, Zouhair Benkhaldoun, Chris Stockdale, Carl Ziegler, Emily A. Gilbert, Jehin Emmanuël, Felipe Murgas, Ian J. M. Crossfield, Martin Paegert, Michael B. Lund, Norio Narita, Richard P. Schwarz, Robert F. Goeke, Sergio B. Fajardo-Acosta, Steve B. Howell, Thiam-Guan Tan, Thomas Barclay, Yugo Kawai
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- Journal:
- Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia / Volume 41 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 April 2024, e030
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NASA’s all-sky survey mission, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is specifically engineered to detect exoplanets that transit bright stars. Thus far, TESS has successfully identified approximately 400 transiting exoplanets, in addition to roughly 6 000 candidate exoplanets pending confirmation. In this study, we present the results of our ongoing project, the Validation of Transiting Exoplanets using Statistical Tools (VaTEST). Our dedicated effort is focused on the confirmation and characterisation of new exoplanets through the application of statistical validation tools. Through a combination of ground-based telescope data, high-resolution imaging, and the utilisation of the statistical validation tool known as TRICERATOPS, we have successfully discovered eight potential super-Earths. These planets bear the designations: TOI-238b (1.61$^{+0.09} _{-0.10}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-771b (1.42$^{+0.11} _{-0.09}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-871b (1.66$^{+0.11} _{-0.11}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-1467b (1.83$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-1739b (1.69$^{+0.10} _{-0.08}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-2068b (1.82$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-4559b (1.42$^{+0.13} _{-0.11}$ R$_\oplus$), and TOI-5799b (1.62$^{+0.19} _{-0.13}$ R$_\oplus$). Among all these planets, six of them fall within the region known as ‘keystone planets’, which makes them particularly interesting for study. Based on the location of TOI-771b and TOI-4559b below the radius valley we characterised them as likely super-Earths, though radial velocity mass measurements for these planets will provide more details about their characterisation. It is noteworthy that planets within the size range investigated herein are absent from our own solar system, making their study crucial for gaining insights into the evolutionary stages between Earth and Neptune.
18 Executive Dysfunction Following Treatment for Pediatric Low Grade Brain Tumors: Increased Risk Associated with Infratentorial Tumor Location
- Luz A De Leon, Lisa E Mash, Sebastian R Espinoza, Kelley Parsons, Everett Adkins, Cameron Martin, Maheen Rizvi, Natasha Feuerbach, Marianne Macleod, Heather Stancel, Kimberly P Raghubar, Lisa S Kahalley
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 19-20
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Objective:
Treatment for pediatric brain tumors (PBTs) is associated with neurocognitive risk, including declines in IQ, executive function, and visual motor processing. Low grade tumors require less intensive treatment (i.e., focal radiotherapy (RT) or surgical resection alone), and have been associated with more favorable cognitive outcomes. However, these patients remain at risk of cognitive problems, which may present differently depending on tumor location. Executive functioning (EF), in particular, has been broadly associated with both frontal-subcortical networks (supratentorial) and the cerebellum (infratentorial). The current study examined intellectual functioning, executive functioning (set-shifting and inhibition), and visual motor skills in patients who were treated for low-grade tumors located in either the supratentorial or infratentorial region.
Participants and Methods:Participants were survivors (age 8-18) previously treated with focal proton RT or surgery alone for infratentorial (n=21) or supratentorial (n=34) low grade glioma (83.6%) or low grade glioneuronal tumors (16.4%). Survivors >2.5 years post-treatment completed cognitive testing (WISC-IV/WAIS-IV; D-KEFS Verbal Fluency (VF), Color-Word Interference (CW), Trail Making Test (TM); Beery Visual-Motor Integration). We compared outcomes between infratentorial and supratentorial groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Demographic and clinical variables were compared using Welch’s t-tests. ANCOVAs were adjusted for age at evaluation, age at treatment, and history of posterior fossa syndrome due to significant or marginally significant differences between groups.
Results:Tumor groups did not significantly differ with respect to sex (49.0% male), length of follow-up (M 4.4 years), or treatment type (74.5% surgery alone, 25.5% proton RT). Marginally significant group differences were found for age at evaluation (infratentorial M = 12.4y, supratentorial M = 14.1y, p = .054) and age at treatment (infratentorial M = 7.9y, supratentorial M = 9.7y, p =.074). Posterior fossa syndrome only occurred with infratentorial tumors (n=5, p = .003). Adjusting for covariates, the supratentorial group exhibited significantly superior performance on a measure of inhibition and set-shifting (CW Switching Time (t(32) = -2.05, p=.048, n2 =.11). There was a marginal group difference in the same direction on CW Inhibition Time (t(32 = -1.77, p = .086, n2 =.08). On the other hand, the supratentorial group showed significantly lower working memory than the infratentorial group (t(50) = 2.45, p = .018, n2 = .11), and trends toward lower verbal reasoning (t(50)=1.96, p = .056, n2 = .07) and full-scale IQ (t(50)=1.73, p = .090, n2 = .055). No other group differences were identified across intellectual, EF, and visualmotor measures.
Conclusions:Infratentorial tumor location was associated with weaker switching and inhibition performance, while supratentorial tumor location was associated with lower performance on intellectual measures, particularly working memory. These findings suggest that even with relatively conservative treatment (i.e., focal proton RT or surgery alone), there remains neurocognitive risk in children treated for low-grade brain tumors. Moreover, tumor location may predict distinct patterns of long-term neurocognitive outcomes, depending on which brain networks are involved.
Associations of an individual's need for cognition with structural brain damage and cognitive functioning/impairment: cross-sectional population-based study
- Lotte S. Truin, Sebastian Köhler, Irene S. Heger, Martin P. J. van Boxtel, Miranda T. Schram, Walter H. Backes, Jacobus F. A. Jansen, Martien M. C. J. M. van Dongen, Nanne K. de Vries, Hein de Vries, Simone J. P. M. Eussen, Coen D. A. Stehouwer, Marjolein E. de Vugt, Kay Deckers
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- Journal:
- The British Journal of Psychiatry / Volume 224 / Issue 6 / June 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 December 2023, pp. 189-197
- Print publication:
- June 2024
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Background
High cognitive activity possibly reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
AimsTo investigate associations between an individual's need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities (need for cognition, NFC) and structural brain damage and cognitive functioning in the Dutch general population with and without existing cognitive impairment.
MethodCross-sectional data were used from the population-based cohort of the Maastricht Study. NFC was measured using the Need For Cognition Scale. Cognitive functioning was tested in three domains: verbal memory, information processing speed, and executive functioning and attention. Values 1.5 s.d. below the mean were defined as cognitive impairment. Standardised volumes of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and presence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) were derived from 3T magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression analyses were used adjusted for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors.
ResultsParticipants (n = 4209; mean age 59.06 years, s.d. = 8.58; 50.1% women) with higher NFC scores had higher overall cognition scores (B = 0.21, 95% CI 0.17–0.26, P < 0.001) and lower odds for CSVD (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60–0.91, P = 0.005) and cognitive impairment (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.48–0.76, P < 0.001) after adjustment for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. The association between NFC score and cognitive functioning was similar for individuals with and without prevalent cognitive impairment. We found no significant association between NFC and WMH or CSF volumes.
ConclusionsA high need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with better cognitive functioning and less presence of CSVD and cognitive impairment. This suggests that, in middle-aged individuals, motivation to engage in cognitively stimulating activities may be an opportunity to improve brain health.
Selected rock powders as sources of nutrients for soil fertilization and maize-wheat grain production in southern Brazil
- A. L. Bamberg, R. Martinazzo, C. A. P. Silveira, C. N. Pillon, L. Stumpf, M. Bergmann, P. van Straaten, E. S. Martins
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- Journal:
- The Journal of Agricultural Science / Volume 161 / Issue 5 / October 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 December 2023, pp. 654-668
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The current study evaluated alternative sources of nutrients to improve the soil fertility status and yield of maize-wheat succession in Southern Brazil. The treatments were: T1: no fertilization; T2: liming with dolomitic marble; T3: alternative liming (AL) with limestone interbedded with shale; T4: AL + 50% P - with Arad natural phosphate (P-ANP) + 50% P – triple superphosphate (P-TSP); T5: AL + 100% P-ANP; T6: AL + 100% P-ANP + 100% K-rich monzogranite; T7: AL + 100% P-ANP + 100% N (50% N from tung pressed cake (N-TPC) + 50% N-urea); T8: AL + 100% P-ANP + 100% K-rich monzogranite + 100% N (50% N-TPC + 50% N-Urea) + 100% S; T9: AL + regional average rate of NPK (5-20-20) formulation. Except for T7 and T8, all treatments received the full recommended rate of N through Urea. Immediate and residual effects were evaluated over 2.5 years (90, 360 and 900 days) on soil fertility and maize - wheat yield. The limestone interbedded with shale released Ca, Mg and corrected soil acidity similarly to dolomitic marble. The fertilization strategies used in T4, T7 and T8 presented the highest cumulative productivities while T3 (U$ = 1223), T9 (U$ = 1174) and T4 (U$ = 1122) resulted in higher profits than the other evaluated fertilization strategies. The limestone interbedded with shale (T3), alone or combined with 50% of P-ANP + 50% of P – TSP (T4) provided the best economical and technical results, highlighting the potential of selected alternative regional sources for soil fertility improvement and plant-nutrients supply.
Ten new insights in climate science 2023
- Mercedes Bustamante, Joyashree Roy, Daniel Ospina, Ploy Achakulwisut, Anubha Aggarwal, Ana Bastos, Wendy Broadgate, Josep G. Canadell, Edward R. Carr, Deliang Chen, Helen A. Cleugh, Kristie L. Ebi, Clea Edwards, Carol Farbotko, Marcos Fernández-Martínez, Thomas L. Frölicher, Sabine Fuss, Oliver Geden, Nicolas Gruber, Luke J. Harrington, Judith Hauck, Zeke Hausfather, Sophie Hebden, Aniek Hebinck, Saleemul Huq, Matthias Huss, M. Laurice P. Jamero, Sirkku Juhola, Nilushi Kumarasinghe, Shuaib Lwasa, Bishawjit Mallick, Maria Martin, Steven McGreevy, Paula Mirazo, Aditi Mukherji, Greg Muttitt, Gregory F. Nemet, David Obura, Chukwumerije Okereke, Tom Oliver, Ben Orlove, Nadia S. Ouedraogo, Prabir K. Patra, Mark Pelling, Laura M. Pereira, Åsa Persson, Julia Pongratz, Anjal Prakash, Anja Rammig, Colin Raymond, Aaron Redman, Cristobal Reveco, Johan Rockström, Regina Rodrigues, David R. Rounce, E. Lisa F. Schipper, Peter Schlosser, Odirilwe Selomane, Gregor Semieniuk, Yunne-Jai Shin, Tasneem A. Siddiqui, Vartika Singh, Giles B. Sioen, Youba Sokona, Detlef Stammer, Norman J. Steinert, Sunhee Suk, Rowan Sutton, Lisa Thalheimer, Vikki Thompson, Gregory Trencher, Kees van der Geest, Saskia E. Werners, Thea Wübbelmann, Nico Wunderling, Jiabo Yin, Kirsten Zickfeld, Jakob Zscheischler
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- Journal:
- Global Sustainability / Volume 7 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 December 2023, e19
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Non-technical summary
We identify a set of essential recent advances in climate change research with high policy relevance, across natural and social sciences: (1) looming inevitability and implications of overshooting the 1.5°C warming limit, (2) urgent need for a rapid and managed fossil fuel phase-out, (3) challenges for scaling carbon dioxide removal, (4) uncertainties regarding the future contribution of natural carbon sinks, (5) intertwinedness of the crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, (6) compound events, (7) mountain glacier loss, (8) human immobility in the face of climate risks, (9) adaptation justice, and (10) just transitions in food systems.
Technical summaryThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Reports provides the scientific foundation for international climate negotiations and constitutes an unmatched resource for researchers. However, the assessment cycles take multiple years. As a contribution to cross- and interdisciplinary understanding of climate change across diverse research communities, we have streamlined an annual process to identify and synthesize significant research advances. We collected input from experts on various fields using an online questionnaire and prioritized a set of 10 key research insights with high policy relevance. This year, we focus on: (1) the looming overshoot of the 1.5°C warming limit, (2) the urgency of fossil fuel phase-out, (3) challenges to scale-up carbon dioxide removal, (4) uncertainties regarding future natural carbon sinks, (5) the need for joint governance of biodiversity loss and climate change, (6) advances in understanding compound events, (7) accelerated mountain glacier loss, (8) human immobility amidst climate risks, (9) adaptation justice, and (10) just transitions in food systems. We present a succinct account of these insights, reflect on their policy implications, and offer an integrated set of policy-relevant messages. This science synthesis and science communication effort is also the basis for a policy report contributing to elevate climate science every year in time for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Social media summaryWe highlight recent and policy-relevant advances in climate change research – with input from more than 200 experts.
On the quasi-ergodicity of absorbing Markov chains with unbounded transition densities, including random logistic maps with escape
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- MATHEUS M. CASTRO, VINCENT P. H. GOVERSE, JEROEN S. W. LAMB, MARTIN RASMUSSEN
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- Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 September 2023, pp. 1-38
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In this paper, we consider absorbing Markov chains $X_n$ admitting a quasi-stationary measure $\mu $ on M where the transition kernel ${\mathcal P}$ admits an eigenfunction $0\leq \eta \in L^1(M,\mu )$. We find conditions on the transition densities of ${\mathcal P}$ with respect to $\mu $ which ensure that $\eta (x) \mu (\mathrm {d} x)$ is a quasi-ergodic measure for $X_n$ and that the Yaglom limit converges to the quasi-stationary measure $\mu $-almost surely. We apply this result to the random logistic map $X_{n+1} = \omega _n X_n (1-X_n)$ absorbed at ${\mathbb R} \setminus [0,1],$ where $\omega _n$ is an independent and identically distributed sequence of random variables uniformly distributed in $[a,b],$ for $1\leq a <4$ and $b>4.$
Real-world data for 21st-century medicine: The clinical and translational science awards program perspective
- Pablo Cure, Sanae ElShourbagy Ferreira, Joshua P. Fessel, Deborah Ossip, Martin S. Zand, Scott J. Steele, Kenneth Gersing, Christopher M. Hartshorn
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 7 / Issue 1 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 September 2023, e201
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Agricultural Research Service Weed Science Research: Past, Present, and Future
- Stephen L. Young, James V. Anderson, Scott R. Baerson, Joanna Bajsa-Hirschel, Dana M. Blumenthal, Chad S. Boyd, Clyde D. Boyette, Eric B. Brennan, Charles L. Cantrell, Wun S. Chao, Joanne C. Chee-Sanford, Charlie D. Clements, F. Allen Dray, Stephen O. Duke, Kayla M. Eason, Reginald S. Fletcher, Michael R. Fulcher, John F. Gaskin, Brenda J. Grewell, Erik P. Hamerlynck, Robert E. Hoagland, David P. Horvath, Eugene P. Law, John D. Madsen, Daniel E. Martin, Clint Mattox, Steven B. Mirsky, William T. Molin, Patrick J. Moran, Rebecca C. Mueller, Vijay K. Nandula, Beth A. Newingham, Zhiqiang Pan, Lauren M. Porensky, Paul D. Pratt, Andrew J. Price, Brian G. Rector, Krishna N. Reddy, Roger L. Sheley, Lincoln Smith, Melissa C. Smith, Keirith A. Snyder, Matthew A. Tancos, Natalie M. West, Gregory S. Wheeler, Martin M. Williams, Julie Wolf, Carissa L. Wonkka, Alice A. Wright, Jing Xi, Lew H. Ziska
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- Journal:
- Weed Science / Volume 71 / Issue 4 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 August 2023, pp. 312-327
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) has been a leader in weed science research covering topics ranging from the development and use of integrated weed management (IWM) tactics to basic mechanistic studies, including biotic resistance of desirable plant communities and herbicide resistance. ARS weed scientists have worked in agricultural and natural ecosystems, including agronomic and horticultural crops, pastures, forests, wild lands, aquatic habitats, wetlands, and riparian areas. Through strong partnerships with academia, state agencies, private industry, and numerous federal programs, ARS weed scientists have made contributions to discoveries in the newest fields of robotics and genetics, as well as the traditional and fundamental subjects of weed–crop competition and physiology and integration of weed control tactics and practices. Weed science at ARS is often overshadowed by other research topics; thus, few are aware of the long history of ARS weed science and its important contributions. This review is the result of a symposium held at the Weed Science Society of America’s 62nd Annual Meeting in 2022 that included 10 separate presentations in a virtual Weed Science Webinar Series. The overarching themes of management tactics (IWM, biological control, and automation), basic mechanisms (competition, invasive plant genetics, and herbicide resistance), and ecosystem impacts (invasive plant spread, climate change, conservation, and restoration) represent core ARS weed science research that is dynamic and efficacious and has been a significant component of the agency’s national and international efforts. This review highlights current studies and future directions that exemplify the science and collaborative relationships both within and outside ARS. Given the constraints of weeds and invasive plants on all aspects of food, feed, and fiber systems, there is an acknowledged need to face new challenges, including agriculture and natural resources sustainability, economic resilience and reliability, and societal health and well-being.
Does intensive home treatment change treatment trajectories of psychiatric disorders?
- A. Martín-Blanco, A. González-Fernández, A. Farré, S. Vieira, P. Alvaro, C. Isern, D. Giménez, C. Torres, V. de la Cruz, C. Martín, N. Moll, O. Castro, M. Sagué-Vilavella
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S167-S168
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Introduction
Intensive home treatment (IHT) for people experiencing a mental health crisis has been progressively established in many western countries as an alternative to in-ward admission. But is this a real alternative? We previously reported that patients treated in our IHT unit only differ from those voluntarily admitted to hospital in suicidal risk and severe behaviour disorders (not in other factors such as clinical severity) (Martín-Blanco et al., Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment 2022;15:213-5). Now we are interested in disentangle if those patients who used to require inward management can be successfully treated at home.
ObjectivesTo describe subsequent treatment trajectories of the first 1000 admissions to our IHT unit and to compare clinical characteristics among the different groups of trajectories.
MethodsRetrospective cohort study. Subsequent treatment trajectories were collected from December 2016 to October 2022 and classified: absence, hospital, IHT, and mixed (hospital and IHT). Statistical significance was tested by means of ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test for quantitative variables (corrected for multiple comparisons) and chi-square tests for qualitative variables.
ResultsTables 1 shows the characteristics of the whole sample. Of the 1000 IHT admissions, 12.1% needed subsequent hospital admission(s), 12.7% IHT admission(s), and 9.3% mixed admission(s). There were no differences among these groups in median severity at IHT admission, but there were differences in the number of previous admissions (p=0.0001): the group with no subsequent admissions had less previous admissions than the other groups (pBonf<0.0001), and the group with subsequent IHT admissions had less than the group with mixed admissions (pBonf=0.0123). There were differences between groups regarding distribution of diagnoses (p<0.0001) (Fig. 1). When considering subsequent admissions by diagnosis, there were differences in severity at IHT admission (p=0.0068) and in number of previous hospitalizations (p<0.0001) (Fig. 2).
Table 1. Clinical characteristics of the whole sample (N=1000) mean SD Age (years) 47.07 17.02 CGI-s at admission * 5 4-5 N % Sex (female) 548 54.8% Psychotic disorders 463 46.3% Affective disorder 257 25.7% Bipolar disorder 128 12.8% Other disorders 152 15.2% Hospital admission in the previous 5 years 313 31.3% CGI-s: clinical global impression - severity. * median and IQR
Image:
Image 2:
ConclusionsPatients that used to require inward management can now be treated at home when suffering an acute episode. Therefore, IHT has changed treatment trajectories for some patients with psychiatric disorders.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
A very musical psychopathology – from intrusive musical imagery, to musical obsessions and hallucinations
- A. S. Morais, F. Martins, P. Casimiro, V. Henriques, N. Descalço, R. Diniz Gomes
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S999
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Introduction
The semiological spectrum that encompasses musical imagery is a very confusing field, as it is often difficult to understand the nature of the underlying psychopathological phenomenon from the patient’s description.
ObjectivesThe purpose of the authors is to explore reviewing, distinguishing and organizing the concepts such as Intrusive musical imagery, musical obsessions, musical hallucinations, pseudohallucinations and musical palinacousis.
MethodsA brief non-systematized review is presented, using the literature available on PubMed and Google Scholar.
ResultsIntrusive musical imagery (earworms, ohrwurms, or involuntary musical imagery) occur in more than 85% of general population, without pathology or ear disease. It involves the involuntary repetition of 15-30 seconds of a fragment of music/tune, persisting like a looping soundtrack, not being aversive.
Musical obsessions are a rare form of intrusive imagery, occurring either with other symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or isolated (“The stuck song syndrome”). It is recurrent, persistent, intrusive, unintentional, time consuming and causes distress or functional impairment (although not as ego-dystonic and aversive as usually intrusive visual imagery are); preserved insight.
Musical hallucinations occur only in 0,16% in a general hospital; they can be linked to psychiatric diseases, but they are more common in neurological diseases (cerebral lesions, Parkinson’s disease, delirium, drug induced…). They are reported to with less controllability, less lyrical content, and lower familiarity, than other forms of inner music; are perceived to arise from an external source and are interpreted as veridical.
Musical Pseudohallucinations can arise after severe hearing loss, in hallucinogen intoxication and in psychotic or non-psychotic disorders (as dissociative states or in borderline personality disorder). They occur in inner/subjective space, but insight can fluctuate.
Musical palinacousis is associated with electroencephalogram and neuroimaging abnormalities, linked to structural brain pathology. There is perseveration (echoing) of an external auditory stimulus occurs after cessation of the stimulus.
ConclusionsA rash classification can lead to misdiagnosis (for e.g. interpreting obsessive symptoms as hallucinatory phenomena or rendering an organic pathology undiagnosed) and the institution of inappropriate therapy. It is important to carefully explore these musical imagery phenomena when patients present these complaints, taking some time to characterize them.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Considering a neuropsychiatric obsessive–compulsive phenotype
- M. Pinho, D. O. Martins, P. S. Martins, L. Gomes, S. Carvalho
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S928
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Introduction
Up to 30% of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) present with a current or past history of tics. Simultaneously, OCD is one of the most frequent psychiatric comorbidities in patients with primary tic disorders (TD), such as Tourette syndrome.
ObjectivesWe present a literature review about the relationship between OCD and movement disorders, including its potential implications.
MethodsA literature review is performed on PUBMED, using the next keywords: "obsessive-compulsive disorder”, “comorbidity”, “movement disorders” and “tic disorders” We focused on data from systematic reviews, clinical trials and meta-analysis published in English on last 10 years.
ResultsGoal-directed behaviour, such as compulsions, is orchestrated by the basal ganglia, through parallel but interconnected frontal–striatal circuits. Dysfunction of these circuits is known to play a role in the pathogenesis of TD and may also underlie OCD.
The most common movement disorders comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are indeed TD, with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) occurring in up to 90% of Tourette syndrome cases. OCD comorbid with TD associates with higher frequencies of hoarding, counting rituals, intrusive violent and sexual thoughts/images, somatic obsessions and repetitive movement compulsions. It also associates with earlier age of onset, higher frequency of sensory phenomena, higher male prevalence and familial aggregation.
However, OCD and OCS are also highly prevalent in choreatic movement disorders, such as Huntington’s disease and rheumatic fever with Sydenham’s chorea. There is also evidence for a correlation between streptococcal infections, autoimmunity, tic disorders and OCD, as seen in Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS).
ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows OCD and movement disorders may share dysfunctional brain circuits, resulting in a neuropsychiatric obsessive–compulsive phenotype, which may differ in terms of clinical characteristics and management.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
LATE ONSET PSYCHOSIS AND VERY LATE ONSET PSYCHOSIS: WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE ETHIOLOGIES?
- A. C. Ramos, S. C. Martins, T. M. Afonso, N. B. Santos, P. Gonçalves, T. Maia
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1039
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Introduction
Psychotic symptoms have long been known to show up earlier in life, typically during adolescence and early adulthood. Late Onset Psychosis (LOP), in which symptoms start between 40 and 60 years of age, and Very Late Onset Psychosis (VLOP), in which onset of symptoms happens after 60 years of age, although classically rare, have had a growing prevalence in the last decades.
ObjectivesTo access the definition and main etiologies of LOP and VLOP, based on the current literature.
MethodsNon-systematic review of literature using the terms “late onset psychosis” and “very late onset psychosis”. Case report of a patient who was admitted and treated in our inward patient field.
Results51-year-old female patient. She is divorced (two previous marriages) and has two daughters (26 and 16, respectively). She was brought by police officers because of behavior problems at the shelter where she was living. She was evicted from the house she was living in because of delay in paying the rent. On observation, she verbalizes persecutory and prejudicial delusions and auditory hallucinations on the 2nd and 3rd person (commenting voices) with at least 5 years of duration. She was hospitalized for almost 3 months, with slow but progressive clinical improvement on haloperidol 7,5mg/day. At the date of discharge, she did not spontaneously verbalize her symptoms, although she did not recognize them as delusional. Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of Schizophrenia in the typical age range is 75-80%, which means that an important proportion of diagnosis is made after that age span. Primary causes of LOP and VLOP are schizophrenia (of late onset), schizophrenia-like very late onset psychosis, delusion disorder, unipolar depression with psychotic symptoms and bipolar disorder. Secondary causes should also be considered, such as delirium, dementia (Alzheimer’s, Lewi bodies and vascular), and substances abuse; even more rare, other conditions should be considered, as cerebrovascular accident, encephalitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
ConclusionsLOP and VLOP have been a growing diagnosis in the past decades. In the assessment of these patients, we must consider the importance of secondary etiologies besides the primary psychiatric ones. Primary psychosis is a diagnosis of exclusion, and the clinician must rule out secondary causes. Recent data point out these symptoms as markers for an increased risk of dementia in these patients. Further research involving individuals with LOP and VLOPs is required to increase the evidence base for treatment and improve outcomes of care.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Suicidality among inpatients - Right under our noses
- A. S. Morais, F. Martins, V. Henriques, P. Casimiro, N. Descalço, R. Diniz Gomes, N. Cunha e Costa, S. Cruz
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S1106-S1107
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Introduction
An inpatient suicide is a tragic event that, despite not very prevalent, should not be overlooked. It occurs in 250 in 100 000 psychiatric hospital admissions (which represents a suicide risk fifteen times greater than general population) and in 1.7-1.9 in 100 000 in general hospitals (4-5 times greater risk). Together they constitute 5-6% of all suicides.
ObjectivesThe purpose of the authors is to explore the epidemiology, the risk factors and the prevention of suicide in inpatient setting.
MethodsA brief non-systematized review is presented, using the literature available on PubMed and Google Scholar.
ResultsThe risk was higher at admission (first week) and immediately after discharge (first 24 hours, up to two weeks).
It was found to be correlated to pour staffing, an increased number of patients with severe mental illnesses and accessibility to lethal means. Many risk factors were identified, some of them specific to context. Risk Factors at admission in a psychiatric hospital – personal or familiar suicide history, schizophrenia or mood disorder, alcohol use, involuntary admission, living alone, absence from the service without permission. Later till discharge - personal suicide history (or attempts after admission), relational conflicts, unemployment, living alone, lack of discharge planning and lack of contact in the immediate post-discharge period. In General Hospitals – chronicity and severity of somatic disease, poor coping strategies, psychiatric comorbidities and lack of liaison psychiatry.
Strategies to prevent inpatient suicide should take in environmental modification (specific to environment and specific to patient – as planned levels of supervision), optimisation of the care of the patients at suicidal risk, staff education and involvement of families in care. There are few studies on the efficacy of pharmacotherapy on reducing suicidal ideation in inpatients (just for clozapine and ketamine); some psychotherapies show promising results. The post-suicide approach cannot be neglected, whether in supporting the family, the team involved and even other patients.
ConclusionsThe assumption of the predictive and preventive value of the risk assessment has been under scrutiny. Depressed mood and a prior history of self-harm are well-established independent risk factors for inpatient suicide; however they lose their predictive value due to their high prevalence. Up to 70% of inpatients who committed suicide didn’t express suicidal ideation on the previous interviews. Most effective measures to prevent suicide are environmental modifications and staff education approaches, giving appropriate responses to each patient’s circumstances.
There is a paucity of literature on suicide in this setting. It should become a priority in national programs of Suicide Prevention.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The Suicidal Physician: When the Doctor Wants to Die
- D. O. Martins, M. Pinho, P. S. Martins, L. Gomes, E. G. Pereira
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1109
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Introduction
Medical-related professions are at high suicide risk. Suicide is a major cause of premature death among physicians, but the prevalence of suicide-related behaviors is inconsistent across studies.
ObjectivesPresenting a review of the prevalence and risk factors of suicide among physicians.
MethodsSearch on Pubmed® and Medscape® databases with the following keywords: “physicians” and “suicide”. We focused on data from systematic reviews and meta-analyzes. The articles were selected by the authors according to their relevance.
ResultsFemale and US physicians were at higher risk of suicidal behavior. Suicide decreased over time, especially in Europe. Some specialties might be at higher risk such as anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners and general surgeons. It is well established that anesthesiologists tend to have much higher rates of substance abuse than other physicians. Psychiatrists are also known to have more mental distress, mental illness and burnout compared with other physician groups and have concerning rates of depression and psychotropic. Physicians are less likely to seek mental health services out of career concerns, culture and/ or a predisposition toward self-reliance. Additionally, retrospective toxicology screening of suicide data finds that physicians are more likely than nonphysicians to have positive results for antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates but not antidepressants.
ConclusionsPhysicians are an at-risk profession of suicide, with women particularly at risk. The rate of suicide in physicians decreased over time, especially in Europe. The high prevalence of physicians who committed suicide attempt as well as those with suicidal ideation should benefits for preventive strategies at the workplace. Physician suicides are multifactorial, and further research into these factors is critical. Appropriate preventive and treatment measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of suicide-related behaviors in this population.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Psychosomatics and mentalization
- A. M. Delgado Campos, P. Alcindor Huelva, A. Alvarez Astorga, S. Rubio Corgo, E. Pérez Vicente, M. Arrieta Pey, C. Diaz Gordillo, P. Del Sol Calderón, A. C. Martín Martín
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1024
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Introduction
We have investigated the relationship between the Psychosomatic Classification method (Marty) and the Rorschach Test, with respect to the diagnosis of psychosomatic disorders, within the framework of the degree of mentalization measured by both.
ObjectivesA) To verify statistical coincidence with respect to the degree of mentalization (risk of generating psychosomatic disorders in a subject) between the Rorschach Test and the diagnostic technique Psychosomatic Classification, by P. Marty. B) To test the hypothesis: Patients diagnosed with infertility, whose degree of mentalization is good, will have a greater probability of achieving a successful pregnancy throught Assisted Reproduction Techniques.
MethodsTwo evaluation tools were used: a) Psychosomatic Classification based on the criteria established by this diagnostic method; b) The Rorschach test (based on the evaluation of 29 indicators, selected according to their greater relevance in the generation of somatic symptoms).
A sample of 120 patients (women) diagnosed infertility at the Assisted Reproduction Unit (U.R.A.) at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid was recruited. The method of ‘statistical correlation of coincidence’ between the results of the two diagnostic instruments used was used. Once both tests had been assessed by the “inter-judge” method and the quantitative values of the selected items had been weighted, the KAPPA statistical method was applied to establish the “correlation of coincidence” between the results of the two assessment instruments.
ResultsConsidering that the KAPPA method takes values between “0" and ”1" and that between 0.6 and 0.8 the agreement or coincidence is considered good, and above 0.8 very good, the result applied to the hypothesis is 0’76 (’good’).
ConclusionsA) Using the Rorschach Test and P. Marty’s Psychosomatic Classification in a complementary manner, these two instruments together provide high reliability, with respect to the degree of mentalization (a subject’s risk of suffering psychosomatic disorders). B) The degree of mentalization has a significant impact on the success or failure in the application of Assisted Reproduction Techniques in infertile women.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Atopic Dermatitis and Major Depressive Disorder: is there causality?
- C. S. Reis, A. Vieira, P. S. Martins
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S828
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Introduction
The association between Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has long been reported by some population-based observational studies. However, observational studies are susceptible to potential confounders and inverse causation, rendering it difficult to conclude about the causality of such association. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is a novel epidemiological method to assess the causation between an exposure and an outcome, with less susceptibility to potential confounders and reverse causation by using genetic variants as instrumental variables.
ObjectivesTo report a clinical case of depression in association with atopic dermatitis and to review what contributions MR studies have been bringing to the matter of causality between AD and MDD.
MethodsCase report and literature review based on PubMed using the terms “atopic dermatitis”, “eczema”, “depression", “depressive”, “mood” and “Mendelian randomization”, which were searched in the title and abstract fields.
ResultsCase-report: A 26-year-old man was admitted for inpatient treatment with a clinical picture of sadness, irritability, social isolation and insomnia, with 4 months of evolution, aggravated by suicidal ideation in the preceding days. On examination of the mental status, the patient had a frankly depressed mood, with congruent affects. He was contemplating suicide methods, pointing to sodium nitrite intoxication as an option. The patient related these symptoms to the worsening of his atopic dermatitis. In fact, he had a history of other depressive episodes contemporaries with periods of dermatological worsening.
Literature review: The PubMed research identified 7 articles, 4 of which assessed the causal effect of AD on MDD. Three studies did support a causal effect of AD genetic risk on MDD. One study supported a small causal effect of AD on MDD, with the significance disappearing when a stricter threshold for selection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms was applied.
ConclusionsThe MR studies included in this poster favour the absence of a causal effect of AD on MDD, suggesting that the comorbidity observed clinically is unlikely to be causal. We must be aware that these studies are few and are not free of limitations (e.g. subgroup analysis for age and severity was not carried out, AD and MDD diagnosis were self-reported in some cases). Further research may help clarify the existence of causality and/or uncover the factors responsible for the observed association of AD with MDD in observational studies.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESIDUAL MOOD SYMPTOMS, DISPOSITIONAL MINDFULNESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN BIPOLAR DISORDER
- F. P. Piazza, B. Solé, S. Martín-Parra, A. Martínez-Arán, N. E. Fares-Otero
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S698
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Introduction
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and recurrent mental condition characterized by mood fluctuations between hypomania or mania and depression, with high level of burden and mortality rates (Hayes et al., 2015). Subsyndromal mood symptoms, including residual depression, mania and/or anxiety, are major risk factors for episodic relapses after mood stabilisation (Samalin et al., 2016). A psychological protective mechanism against the occurrence of these maladaptative mood symptoms is dispositional mindfulness (DM). DM refers to paying purposeful attention to present moment experiences with a curious, non-judgmental and accepting attitude (Radford et al., 2014). DM has been barely assessed in BD and there is very little evidence on the relationship between DM, residual mood symptoms and quality of life
ObjectivesTo explore associations between DM, residual mood symptoms and quality of life in individuals with BD
MethodsAfter informed consent, a total of 94 adults (Mean age= 45.57 years, 41.50% Male) with diagnosis of BD according to DSM-5 criteria, in full or partial remission,were recruited from the Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. The ethical committee approved this study. Dispositional mindfulness was assessed using the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS).The presence of residual depressive symptoms was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), residual mania symptoms were assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale(YMRS), and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). The subjective quality of life was assessed with the Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder Questionnaire (QoL-BD). Pearson correlations were carried out and the level of significance was set at p<0.05
ResultsDM was negatively related to residual depressive symptoms (r= -0.283; p=0.009) and to anxiety symptoms (r=-0.345; p<0.001), and positively related to quality of life (r=0.433; p<0.001), but not related to residual manic symptoms in BD
ConclusionsOur preliminary data suggest that BD patients with higher levels of DM may experience less depressive and anxiety subsyndromal symptoms and perceived higher quality of life. No associations were detected regarding mania symptoms. These findings support the use of mindfulness training as an adjunct therapy to pharmacotherapy to reduce residual mood symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with BD
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared