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In many regions of Canada, knowledge of the distribution of insect species is far from complete. This knowledge gap, known as the Wallacean Shortfall, is often manifest by species records separated by large, often remote areas with no records. Paradoxically, these difficult-to-access areas offer the best opportunity to study unaltered native community assemblages. Such gaps in knowledge are exemplified by ground beetles, a well-known group, yet with record gaps in many unstudied areas of Canada, including Akimiski Island, Nunavut. This postglacial rebound island, located in James Bay, has no permanently occupied human dwellings and almost no human-altered habitat. Using a combination of pitfall-malaise traps, pitfall traps, and hand captures during 2008–2014, we collected 1368 ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as part of a larger biodiversity survey. We identified 31 species, 29 of which were first territorial records for Nunavut. Our results almost double the number of Carabidae known from Nunavut and extend the known range of eight other species. Seventeen of the species that we caught cannot fly, evidence for colonists arriving on Akimiski on floating debris. Our study fills substantial range gaps and serves as baseline information to detect future change.
Advanced biopreservation technologies using subzero approaches such as supercooling, partial freezing, and vitrification with reanimating techniques including nanoparticle infusion and laser rewarming are rapidly emerging as technologies with potential to radically disrupt biomedicine, research, aquaculture, and conservation. These technologies could pause biological time and facilitate large-scale banking of biomedical products including organs, tissues, and cell therapies.
We explore Madole & Harden's (2022) suggestion that single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)/trait correlations are analogous to randomized experiments and thus can be given a causal interpretation.
Atmospheric aerosols influence the Earth’s climate, primarily by affecting cloud formation and scattering visible radiation. However, aerosol-related physical processes in climate simulations are highly uncertain. Constraining these processes could help improve model-based climate predictions. We propose a scalable statistical framework for constraining the parameters of expensive climate models by comparing model outputs with observations. Using the C3.AI Suite, a cloud computing platform, we use a perturbed parameter ensemble of the UKESM1 climate model to efficiently train a surrogate model. A method for estimating a data-driven model discrepancy term is described. The strict bounds method is applied to quantify parametric uncertainty in a principled way. We demonstrate the scalability of this framework with 2 weeks’ worth of simulated aerosol optical depth data over the South Atlantic and Central African region, written from the model every 3 hr and matched in time to twice-daily MODIS satellite observations. When constraining the model using real satellite observations, we establish constraints on combinations of two model parameters using much higher time-resolution outputs from the climate model than previous studies. This result suggests that within the limits imposed by an imperfect climate model, potentially very powerful constraints may be achieved when our framework is scaled to the analysis of more observations and for longer time periods.
Sporadic clusters of healthcare-associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred despite intense rostered routine surveillance and a highly vaccinated healthcare worker (HCW) population, during a community surge of the severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.617.2 δ (delta) variant. Genomic analysis facilitated timely cluster detection and uncovered additional linkages via HCWs moving between clinical areas and among HCWs sharing a common lunch area, enabling early intervention.
The impact of flexible rectangular aluminum plates on a quiescent water surface is studied experimentally. The plates are mounted via pinned supports at the leading and trailing edges to an instrument carriage that drives the plates at constant velocity and various angles relative to horizontal into the water surface. Time-resolved measurements of the hydrodynamic normal force ($F_n$) and transverse moment ($M_{to}$), the spray root position ($\xi _r$) and the plate deflection ($\delta$) are collected during plate impacts at 25 experimental conditions for each plate. These conditions comprise a matrix of impact Froude numbers ${Fr} = V_n(gL)^{-0.5}$, plate stiffness ratios $R_D= \rho _w V_n^2 L^3D^{-1}$ and submergence time ratios $R_T= T_sT_{1w}^{-1}$. It is found that $R_D$ is the primary dimensionless ratio controlling the role of flexibility during the impact. At conditions with low $R_D$, maximum plate deflections on the order of $1$ mm occur and the records of the dimensionless form of $F_n$, $M_{to}$, $\xi _r$ and $\delta _c$ are nearly identical when plotted vs $tT_s^{-1}$. In these cases, the impact occurs over time scales substantially greater than the plate's natural period, and a quasi-static response ensues with the maximum deflection occurring approximately midway through the impact. For conditions with higher $R_D$ ($\gtrsim 1.0$), the above-mentioned dimensionless quantities depend strongly on $R_D$. These response features indicate a dynamic plate response and a two-way fluid–structure interaction in which the deformation of the plate causes significant changes in the hydrodynamic force and moment.
The dynamics of turbulent flow structures in the wakes of barchan dunes is investigated to understand the complex, long-range interactions that occur between these three-dimensional bedforms. High-frame-rate stereo-particle image velocimetry measurements are collected from the cross-stream plane in a refractive-index-matched flume, wherein rigid models are immersed in the logarithmic region of a turbulent boundary layer. Through application of Taylor's hypothesis, limited-domain pseudo-three-dimensional reconstructions of the flow are made, wherein coherent structures are identified in the wake of an isolated barchan that resemble hairpin-like vortices. Amplitude modulation analysis, based on wavelet decomposition of velocity fluctuations and swirling strength, suggests a correlation between the shedding of these coherent structures and the passage of large-scale motions (LSMs) aloft in the turbulent boundary layer within which the barchan dune is immersed. Impulse analysis of shear stress events shows that, while the hairpin-like structures predominantly induce ejections of low-momentum fluid, the intermittent passage of an overlying high-momentum LSM yields intense sweep events as they impact the wall. Similar flow dynamics is found in dune–dune collision configurations involving barchan dunes arranged in tandem, with the exception that significant flow asymmetries are introduced, resulting in structures resembling single-legged hairpin-like (or ‘cane’) vortices being identified in conditional averages. These results provide insight into both the morphodynamics of dune interactions as well as the interactions between boundary-layer structure and roughness elements protruding into the log layer.
Psychiatry has long debated whether the causes of mental illness can be better explained by reductionist or pluralistic accounts. Although the former relies on commonsense scientific bottom-up causal models, the latter (which typically include environmental, psychological, and/or socio-cultural risk factors) requires top-down causal processes often viewed with skepticism, especially by neuroscientists. We begin with four clinical vignettes which illustrate self-interventions wherein high-order psychological processes (e.g. religious beliefs or deep interpersonal commitments) appear to causally impact the risk for or the course of psychiatric/behavioral disorders. We then propose a model for how to understand this sort of top-down self-causation. Our model relies centrally on the concept of a control variable which, like a radio tuning dial, can implement a series of typically unknown physical processes to obtain the desired ends. We set this control variable in the context of an interventionist account of causation that assumes that a cause (C) produces an effect (E) when intervening on C (by manipulating it) is associated with a change in E. We extend this framework by arguing that certain psychological changes can result from individuals intervening on their own mental states and/or selection of environments. This in turn requires a conception of the self that contains mental capacities that are at least partially independent of one another. Although human beings cannot directly intervene on the neurobiological systems which instantiate risk for psychiatric illness, they can, via control variables at the psychological level, and/or by self-selection into protective environments, substantially alter their own risk.
The importance of bile acid synthesis and metabolism to normal physiology and their role in pathophysiological states is well recognized. For such small and relatively simple molecules, bile acids have amazingly diverse properties and functions. Bile acid biosynthesis represents one of the major pathways for regulating cholesterol homeostasis – each day approximately 0.5 g of cholesterol is metabolized to bile acids [1]. These molecules are essential for providing the major driving force for the promotion and secretion of bile and therefore are key elements in the development and maintenance of an efficient enterohepatic circulation. Bile acids are essential for facilitating the solubilization and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the small bowel, although in the large bowel these molecules if in excess are potentially harmful in that they are carthartic, membrane damaging, and promoters of colonic disease. More recently, bile acids have become of interest because of their hormone-like actions of relevance to obesity, glucose and insulin regulation where they are now regarded as important molecules that signal through orphan receptors to regulate metabolism. With regard to bile acid biosynthesis, comprehensive reviews on the topic have been published previously [1, 2], and in the fourth edition of this textbook a detailed description of the pathways for bile acid synthesis was described.
There is a growing consensus in the literature that governance architectures matter. However, we lack sufficient knowledge about their emergence, dynamics and impacts. This concluding chapter summarizes all insights in the book Architectures of Earth System Governance, and emphasizes how this book has made a scientific contribution by enhancing conceptual clarity, synthesizing a decade of intense research, and charting directions for future research. The book has made at least one point clear: the ‘architecture lens’ offers a bird’s-eye view on the global governance landscape that is highly valuable in explaining outcomes of world politics. The architectures matter in how institutions interact with others, how institutions are entangled with others in larger regime complexes and how institutions are affected by broader architectures that are more or less fragmented or polycentric. In this concluding chapter, we also illustrate how such key insights gained could inform a set of transformative policy proposals regarding the architecture of earth system governance.
At present, analysis of diet and bladder cancer (BC) is mostly based on the intake of individual foods. The examination of food combinations provides a scope to deal with the complexity and unpredictability of the diet and aims to overcome the limitations of the study of nutrients and foods in isolation. This article aims to demonstrate the usability of supervised data mining methods to extract the food groups related to BC. In order to derive key food groups associated with BC risk, we applied the data mining technique C5.0 with 10-fold cross-validation in the BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants study, including data from eighteen case–control and one nested case–cohort study, compromising 8320 BC cases out of 31 551 participants. Dietary data, on the eleven main food groups of the Eurocode 2 Core classification codebook, and relevant non-diet data (i.e. sex, age and smoking status) were available. Primarily, five key food groups were extracted; in order of importance, beverages (non-milk); grains and grain products; vegetables and vegetable products; fats, oils and their products; meats and meat products were associated with BC risk. Since these food groups are corresponded with previously proposed BC-related dietary factors, data mining seems to be a promising technique in the field of nutritional epidemiology and deserves further examination.
Recent investigations now suggest that cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and may underpin part of the disease’s neurovascular component. However, our understanding of the relationship between the magnitude of CVR, the speed of cerebrovascular response, and the progression of AD is still limited. This is especially true in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is recognized as an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia. The purpose of this study was to investigate AD and MCI patients by mapping repeatable and accurate measures of cerebrovascular function, namely the magnitude and speed of cerebrovascular response (τ) to a vasoactive stimulus in key predilection sites for vascular dysfunction in AD.
Methods:
Thirty-three subjects (age range: 52–83 years, 20 males) were prospectively recruited. CVR and τ were assessed using blood oxygen level-dependent MRI during a standardized carbon dioxide stimulus. Temporal and parietal cortical regions of interest (ROIs) were generated from anatomical images using the FreeSurfer image analysis suite.
Results:
Of 33 subjects recruited, 3 individuals were excluded, leaving 30 subjects for analysis, consisting of 6 individuals with early AD, 11 individuals with MCI, and 13 older healthy controls (HCs). τ was found to be significantly higher in the AD group compared to the HC group in both the temporal (p = 0.03) and parietal cortex (p = 0.01) following a one-way ANCOVA correcting for age and microangiopathy scoring and a Bonferroni post-hoc correction.
Conclusion:
The study findings suggest that AD is associated with a slowing of the cerebrovascular response in the temporal and parietal cortices.
The dynamic interplay between surface and subsurface flow in the presence of a permeable boundary was investigated using low and high frame-rate particle-image velocimetry measurements in a refractive-index-matching flow environment. Two idealized permeable wall models were considered. Both models contained five layers of cubically packed spheres, but one exhibited a smooth interface with the flow, while the other embodied a hemispherical surface topography. The relationship between the large-scale turbulent motions overlying the permeable walls and the small-scale turbulence just above, and within, the walls was explored using instantaneous and statistical analyses. Although previous studies have indirectly identified the potential existence of amplitude modulation in permeable-wall turbulence (a phenomenon identified in impermeable-wall turbulence whereby the outer large scales modulate the intensity of the near-wall, small-scale turbulence), the present effort provides direct evidence of its existence in flow over both permeable walls considered. The spatio-temporal signatures of amplitude modulation were also characterized using conditional averaging based on zero-crossing events. This analysis highlights the connection between large-scale regions of high/low streamwise momentum in the surface flow, downwelling/upwelling across the permeable interface and enhancement/suppression of small-scale turbulence, respectively, just above and within the permeable walls. The presence of bed roughness is found to intensify the strength and penetration of flow into the permeable bed modulated by large-scale structures in the surface flow, and linked to possible roughness-formed channelling effects and shedding of smaller-scale flow structures from the roughness elements.
SDG 15 requires the maintenance of life on land and endorses priorities already established through international conventions and agreements. The scale, and complexity, of tropical forest loss and biodiversity decline versus the limited resources for conservation and forestry pose many challenges. The main innovation of SDG 15 is that decision makers will see this goal as one to integrate with other SDGs; the risk is that short-term priorities and a ‘business as usual’ approach will undermine this. We examine these opportunities and challenges, the factors that impinge upon them and how they may play out over the next decade. There will be trade-offs between SDG 15 and other SDGs resulting from competition for land, but there are also synergies and opportunities that require recognition. We encourage conservation and development professionals to engage with those responsible for all the Agenda 2030 targets to ensure that SDG 15 is a priority in all SDG related processes.
A national need is to prepare for and respond to accidental or intentional disasters categorized as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE). These incidents require specific subject-matter expertise, yet have commonalities. We identify 7 core elements comprising CBRNE science that require integration for effective preparedness planning and public health and medical response and recovery. These core elements are (1) basic and clinical sciences, (2) modeling and systems management, (3) planning, (4) response and incident management, (5) recovery and resilience, (6) lessons learned, and (7) continuous improvement. A key feature is the ability of relevant subject matter experts to integrate information into response operations. We propose the CBRNE medical operations science support expert as a professional who (1) understands that CBRNE incidents require an integrated systems approach, (2) understands the key functions and contributions of CBRNE science practitioners, (3) helps direct strategic and tactical CBRNE planning and responses through first-hand experience, and (4) provides advice to senior decision-makers managing response activities. Recognition of both CBRNE science as a distinct competency and the establishment of the CBRNE medical operations science support expert informs the public of the enormous progress made, broadcasts opportunities for new talent, and enhances the sophistication and analytic expertise of senior managers planning for and responding to CBRNE incidents.
We sought to explore factors associated with depressive symptom severity among older persons (≥60 years of age) and to compare the depressive symptoms commonly experienced by older elderly (≥75 years) with those commonly experienced by younger elderly (<75 years).
Design:
Secondary analysis was conducted on data from a nationally representative survey.
Setting:
Four parishes in Jamaica.
Participants:
A total of 2,943 older community dwellers participated.
Measurements:
The survey included the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and items on age, sex, and educational level. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between ZSDS score and: age, sex, MMSE score, and educational level. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine, for each ZSDS item, whether particular responses were more associated with older or younger elderly.
Results:
Higher ZSDS scores were associated with increasing age (B = 0.13, p < 0.001), lower MMSE score (B = −0.42, p < 0.001), the female sex (B = 3.52, p < 0.001), and lower educational level (B = −1.27, p < 0.001). The ZSDS items that were endorsed significantly more (p < 0.05) by older elderly related to negative evaluations about their functionality and value. Hopelessness was also more prominent among the older elderly. The items that were endorsed significantly more (p < 0.05) by the younger elderly had less of a focus.
Conclusion:
Among older persons, increasing age was associated with marginally higher levels of depressive symptoms. Female gender, cognitive deficits, preoccupations about value and functionality, and feelings of hopelessness may serve as useful screening parameters.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the US, with a lifetime prevalence of 2.8%. Disturbances in reward circuitry have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Dasotraline is a novel and potent dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with slow absorption and a long half-life resulting in stable plasma concentrations over 24 hours with once-daily dosing. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of flexibly-dosed dasotraline (4, 6, and 8 mg/day) vs placebo in adults with moderate to severe BED over a 12-week period (NCT02564588).
Methods
Key inclusion criteria included moderate to severe BED based on a history of ≥2 binge eating days/week for ≥6 months prior to screening, and ≥3 binge eating days for each of2 weeks prior to randomization, as documented in participant’s binge eating diary. Patients were randomized 1:1 to flexibly-dosed dasotraline (4, 6, 8 mg/day) or placebo. Theprimary endpoint was change from baseline (CFB) in the number of binge eating days per week at Week 12. Key secondary endpoints were: CFB in Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S) Scale at Week 12; CFB in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Binge Eating (YBOCS-BE) at Week 12; and the percentage ofsubjects with a 4-week cessation from binge eating prior to Week 12 or end of treatment (EOT). Except for 4-week cessation, the other three variables were analyzed using amixed model for repeated measures (MMRM).
Results
317 subjects (84% female) received ≥1 dose of study medication (mean age was 38.2 years; mean number of binge eating days per week, 4.25; mean CGI-S score, 4.5; mean BMI, 34.7). The MMRM analysis of CFB at Week 12 in the number of binge days/week yielded a significant mean difference of –0.99 (95% CI: –0.65 to –1.33; p<0.001) infavour of dasotraline (–3.74 in the dasotraline group vs –2.75 in the placebo group). All three key secondary endpoints were met at Week 12 or EOT: 46.5% of subjects in thedasotraline group achieved at least 4 consecutive weeks’ cessation from binge eating vs 20.6% in the placebo group (p<0.001); CFB in CGI-S and YBOCS-BE scores were also statistically significant in favour of dasotraline (p<0.001). The treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) that occurred more frequently with dasotraline vs placebo at >2% incidence included: insomnia (44.6% vs 8.1%), dry mouth (27.4% vs 5.0%), decreased appetite (19.7% vs 6.9%), anxiety (17.8% vs 2.5%), nausea (12.7% vs 6.9%) and decreased body weight (12.1% vs 0%). Discontinuation due to AEs occurred in 11.5% of patients taking dasotraline vs 2.5% taking placebo.
Conclusions
In adults with moderate to severe BED, there were highly significant and clinically meaningful reductions with dasotraline vs placebo in the frequency of binge eating, global severity of illness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to binge eating. These results suggest dasotraline may offer a novel, well-tolerated and efficacious treatmentfor BED.