Collection Sites Research Articles

Surface dynamics of small fast-rotating asteroids: Analysis of possible regolith on asteroid 2016 HO3

The Chinese Tianwen-2 mission is planned to explore and sample the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3, also named 469219 Kamo'oalewa. This paper intends to answer the question of whether 2016 HO3 has any regolith. A 3D model of an irregular shape was reconstructed from light curve data of 2016 HO3, with simulated impact craters embedded on its surface. We used numerical simulations to calculate the acceleration from gravity, fast rotation, and the van der Waals cohesive force. We found that the poles have a higher chance of hosting regolith, and the regolith may also rest on the walls of craters that face toward the rotation axis, making them potential sample collection sites. On the surface of 2016 HO3, the van der Waals force is strong enough to hold particles smaller than several centimeters against centrifugal force. Furthermore, we compare a pair of transient processes: thermal fatigue, which generates small particles, and micro-impacts, which remove the surface mass. Thermal fatigue is at least comparable to, and perhaps more efficient than, micro-impacts for 2016 HO3. Therefore, it is highly possible that regolith exists on the surface of 2016 HO3.

ESTUDIO EPIDEMIOLÓGICO DE PARÁSITOS EN HECES DE PERROS EN PARQUES DE COZUMEL, QUINTANA ROO, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Contamination of public spaces with canine feces containing parasites increases the possibility of transmission of these parasites to people and other canines. <strong>Objective: </strong>To estimate the frequency and variables associated with parasite eggs/oocysts in canine feces collected in public parks from Cozumel Island, Mexico. <strong>Material and methods:</strong> One hundred and fifteen stool samples were collected in 23 public parks, which were selected by convenience and analyzed by direct smear microscopy. The variables evaluated were i) with/without tourism, ii) low/high economic level), iii) high/low number of inhabitants and iv) area collection site paved/unpaved. A statistical association analysis test (Χ<sup>2</sup>) was performed to determine significance of results and the odds ratio (OR) between the studied variables was evaluated. <strong>Results: </strong>A parasite prevalence of 27% was found, recording the following order of species <em>Ancylostoma</em> spp > <em>Trichuris</em> spp > <em>Toxocara </em>spp > <em>Isospora</em> spp = <em>Taenia </em>spp. Statistical significance was not found in the X<sup>2</sup> tests and ORs. The positive sample frequencies of the variables evaluated did not show any correlation, irrespective of the parasite reported. <strong>Implications:</strong> Stray dogs, pet dogs, people and pet owners visiting public parks of Cozumel Island, Mexico, could be infected by gastrointestinal parasites. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> In public parks from Cozumel Island, gastrointestinal parasite eggs/oocysts are present in canine feces. However, the variables evaluated did correlate with the presence of these parasites.</p>

Variability in spruce beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) adult diapause and evidence for oocyte development prior to winter in a Colorado population.

Diapause regulates seasonal insect life cycles and may be highly variable within and among populations due to genetic and environmental variability. Both types of variation may influence how populations respond plastically or evolutionarily to changing climates. We assessed diapause variability in spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), a major forest pest whose life cycle timing is regulated by both prepupal and adult diapauses. Using mating studies and ovary dissections, we tested for variability in adult diapause within and between collection sites in Colorado and Wyoming, USA. Ovary morphology suggested that most females from both sites enter diapause prior to egg formation (oogenesis) when reared at warm temperatures. Though previous studies suggested that adult diapause is obligate, we found that a small proportion of females from both populations terminated diapause without winter chilling in the lab. Moreover, we found that most female beetles sampled at the Colorado field site had mature ovaries relatively early in the fall, suggesting that transient exposure to low temperatures may potentiate pre-winter reproductive development. Adult diapause may act primarily as a block to prevent offspring production late in the season but not necessarily as an overwintering phenotype. Overall, our data do not suggest imminent life cycle shifts mediated by adult diapause, but if the observed variability is heritable, diapause regulation may evolve in response to changing environmental conditions.

Continental sampling reveals core bacterial and environmentally driven fungal leaf endophytes in Heuchera.

Endophytic plant-microbe interactions range from mutualistic relationships that confer important ecological and agricultural traits to neutral or quasi-parasitic relationships. In contrast to root-associated endophytes, the role of environmental and host-related factors in the acquisition of leaf endophyte communities at broad spatial and phylogenetic scales remains sparsely studied. We assessed endofoliar diversity to test the hypothesis that membership in these microbial communities is driven primarily by abiotic environment and host phylogeny. We used a broad geographic coverage of North America in the genus Heuchera L. (Saxifragaceae), representing 32 species and varieties across 161 populations. Bacterial and fungal communities were characterized using 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing, respectively, and standard diversity metrics were calculated. We assembled environmental predictors for microbial diversity at collection sites, including latitude, elevation, temperature, precipitation, and soil parameters. Assembly patterns differed between bacterial and fungal endophytes. Host phylogeny was significantly associated with bacteria, while geographic distance was the best predictor of fungal community composition. Species richness and phylogenetic diversity were consistent across sites and species, with only fungi showing a response to aridity and precipitation for some metrics. Unlike what has been observed with root-associated microbial communities, in this system microbes show no relationship with pH or other soil factors. Overall, this work improves our understanding of the large-scale patterns of diversity and community composition in leaf endophytes and highlights the relative significance of environmental and host-related factors in driving different microbial communities within the leaf microbiome.

DNA methylation stability in cardiac tissues kept at different temperatures and time intervals

Investigating DNA methylation (DNAm) in cardiac tissues is vital for epigenetic research in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). During cardiac surgery, biopsies may not be immediately stored due to a lack of human or technical resources at the collection site. Assessing DNAm stability in cardiac samples left in suboptimal conditions is crucial for applying DNAm analysis. We investigated the stability of DNAm in human cardiac tissues kept at 4 °C and 22 °C for periods of 1, 7, 14, and 28 days (exposed samples) using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC v1.0 BeadChip Array. We observed high correlations between samples analysed immediately after tissue collection and exposed ones (R2 > 0.992). Methylation levels were measured as β-values and median absolute β-value differences (|∆β|) ranged from 0.0093 to 0.0119 in all exposed samples. Pairwise differentially methylated position (DMP) analysis revealed no DMPs under 4 °C (fridge temperature) exposure for up to 28 days and 22 °C (room temperature) exposure for one day, while 3,437, 6,918, and 3,824 DMPs were observed for 22 °C samples at 7, 14, and 28 days, respectively. This study provides insights into the stability of genome-wide DNAm, showing that cardiac tissue can be used for reliable DNAm analysis even when stored suboptimally after surgery.

Automated Pipeline for Multi-LiDAR Extrinsic Calibration: Experimental Evaluation and Performance Analysis

Abstract. In recent years, 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) has become a crucial sensor in various applications such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, object detection, precision forestry, and agriculture. However, specific LiDAR sensors, such as Velodyne VLP16, exhibit some drawbacks, such as a limited field of view and sparse data density, making them inadequate for certain specific applications. Hence, this research proposes a method for calibrating two VLP16 LiDAR sensors to improve coverage and reduce blind spots. The pipeline for performing the calibration begins with mounting LiDARs correctly in a rod at a specific orientation and distance, followed by the selection of multiple sites for data collection, then performing a registration algorithm for estimating calibration parameters, and then an accuracy assessment of the calibrated point clouds. The registration algorithm used here is a modified version of ICP (Iterative Closest Point), which overcomes the need for initialization and eliminates manual intervention in installing targets or retro-reflectors. Finally, we evaluated the accuracy of the fused point cloud collected in an open environment using two calibrated Velodyne VLP16 sensors. For accuracy assessment, we used the PCA eigenvalue and RMSE value to observe how tightly point clouds are fused. As a calibration result, we got the orientation and translation parameters, which are used to achieve the common coordinate system, and accomplished calibration accuracy up to single-digit precision from all the experimental sites. Now the system of two calibrated VLP16 sensors will provide higher coverage and increased data density and might be useful for forest applications.

ЭМУЛЯЦИЯ ПОКАЗАНИЙ ДАТЧИКОВ КАЧЕСТВА ВОЗДУХА В ГОРОДСКОЙ СРЕДЕ УМНОГО ГОРОДА

Urban air pollution poses a serious threat to human health. To monitor it, both individual sensors and systems are used to assess the concentration of dust particles PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and organic compounds. However, the reliability of the sensor system cannot be 100 percent. From time to time, certain sensors in a distributed system fail. For this reason, it is very useful to emulate their readings based on the readings of the remaining sensors. The work describes a data set and proposes a machine learning model, which, based on the readings of functional sensors and weather conditions at the data collection sites, simulates the readings of a failed sensor. The accuracy of such emulation for certain types of pollution has been assessed (the coefficient of determination ranges from 0.43 to 0.61).

Determination of concentration and risk assessment of toxic metals in the settled dust from school yards of Mashhad metropolis.

The present study aims to measure the values of metal pollutants in the dust of schools in Mashhad metropolis, determine the source of metal pollution, evaluate the degree of pollution, assess the health risk (carcinogenicity/non-carcinogenicity) and evaluate the potential ecological risk. For this purpose, after measuring the concentration of metals using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, from various indices including Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factors (CF), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Health Risk Indices such as Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Carcinogenic Risk (CR) were used. The average concentrations of iron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, vanadium and zinc (Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were 6361.50, 5.96, 0.59, 61.89, 37.13, 61.31, 28.93, 25.64 and 142.00µgg-1, respectively. Based on CF, PLI and Igeo indices, most of the findings for the studied elements were at the low pollution level. The results also showed that the most likely origin of the studied metals was anthropogenic sources. The results of PERI indices showed that potential ecological risk at only one of the collection sites. In contrast, a high ecological risk was obtained for Cd. Hazard Index values were below safe levels for all studied elements. CR levels for elements were also classified as negligible and acceptable or tolerable risk, although the highest CR value for Cr indicated possible harm to humans. The findings showed the need for more attention and continuous monitoring of the concentration of metals, especially chromium, to announce a possible warning and prevent their harmful effects. It should be noted that the present study is the first research with mentioned objectives in Mashhad city and also in Khorasan Razavi province.

Repurposing MALDI-TOF MS for effective antibiotic resistance screening in Staphylococcus epidermidis using machine learning

The emergence of Staphylococcus epidermidis as a significant nosocomial pathogen necessitates advancements in more efficient antimicrobial resistance profiling. However, existing culture-based and PCR-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods are far too slow or costly. This study combines machine learning with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to develop predictive models for various antibiotics using a comprehensive dataset containing thousands of S. epidermidis isolates. Optimized machine learning models utilized feature selection and achieved high AUROC scores ranging from 0.80 to 0.95 while maintaining AUPRC scores up to 0.97. Shapley Additive exPlanations were employed to analyze relevant features and assess the significance of corresponding protein biomarkers while also verifying that predictive power was derived from the detection of proteins rather than noise. Antimicrobial resistance models were validated externally to evaluate model performance outside the original data collection site. The approaches and findings in this study demonstrate a significant advancement in rapid, cost-effective antimicrobial resistance profiling, offering a promising solution for improving treatments for nosocomial infections and being potentially applicable to other microbial pathogens in the future.

Pseudogymnoascus destructans invasion stage impacts the skin microbial functions of highly vulnerable Myotis lucifugus.

The role of the skin microbiome in resistance and susceptibility of wildlife to fungal pathogens has been examined from a taxonomic perspective but skin microbial function, in the context of fungal infection, has yet to be studied. Our objective was to understand effects of a bat fungal pathogen site infection status and course of invasion on skin microbial function. We sampled seven hibernating colonies of Myotis lucifugus covering three-time points over the course of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) invasion and white nose syndrome (pre-invasion, epidemic and established). Our results support three new hypotheses about Pd and skin functional microbiome: 1) there is an important effect of Pd invasion stage, especially at the epidemic stage; 2) disruption by the fungus at the epidemic stage could decrease anti-fungal functions with potential negative effects on the microbiome and bat health; 3) the collection site might have a larger influence on microbiomes at the pre-invasion stage rather than at epidemic and established stages. Future studies with larger samples size and using meta-omics approaches will help confirm these hypotheses, and determine the influence of the microbiome on wildlife survival to fungal disease.

Oyster extractivism in the Amazon: characterization and perception of extractivists on the conservation of natural banks

The objectives of this study were to identify extractivists working in the region of Curuçá, Pará, Brazil, to evaluate the perception of these workers on the conservation and exploitation of natural oyster stocks. Applying snowball sampling, semistructured questionnaires were applied in the period from September 2019 to January 2020, resulting in 38 interviewed extractivists. Of the 38 respondents, 50% were older than 40 years, 78.9% were men, and oyster extractivism was the main source of income for 65.8%. In addition, 94.7% lived in the city of Curuçá, and 36.8% worked as extractivists for 7 to 11 years. The majority reported never having received any training on oyster collection or oyster bank conservation. The extractivists reported that their greatest challenge was collection sites. Lack of training was a risk factor for collecting during the rainy season (OR=1.52), while having received training was a protective factor for collecting seeds (OR=0.64). Additionally, 94.7% of the respondents reported an increase in oyster mortality in the rainy season. Encouraging extractivists to organize into associations or cooperatives with the support of public development policies and providing training focused on sustainable extraction can contribute to the conservation of natural oyster banks by preventing damage to the natural ecosystem.

Multivariate genetic analysis and diversity assessment in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) accessions

The present study was carried out during 2019 to 2022 at the Floriculture Research Station (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu), Thovalai, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu to access the genetic variability in lotus accessions (Nelumbo nucifera) collected from 6 diverse locations. The research presents significant insights into the growth and flowering characteristics of these extraordinary aquatic plants and their adaptability to various environmental conditions. The analysis of mean performance showcases noteworthy variations in plant height, leaf dimensions, flowering time and the number of leaves, and flowers/plant across different collection sites, highlighting the profound influence of local environmental conditions on lotus growth. Lotus traits with significant genetic diversity and heritability, presenting opportunities for targeted selective breeding were identified. Principal component analysis uncovers key trait influencers, while cluster analysis categorizes accessions based on similarities, streamlining research and cultivation. Correlation and path analysis unveil relationships among lotus traits, enhancing our understanding of growth factors. D2 cluster composition reveals distinct groupings; Cluster I includes KNn1 and KNn5, Cluster II features KNn2, Cluster III comprises KNn6, Cluster IV contains KNn3, and Cluster V houses KNn4. Genetic divergence analysis identifies the number of flowers/plant as the primary driver of genetic diversity, emphasizing its importance for breeding. It underscores the need to consider both genetic and environmental factors in lotus cultivation and highlights the importance of targeted breeding efforts to unlock the full potential of lotus.

Identification, Characteristics, and Fungicide Efficacy of Seed-Associated Fungi of Saposhnikovia divaricata in Northeast China.

Saposhnikovia divaricata (Trucz.) Schischk. is one of the traditional medicinal herbs in Northeast China, and its roots are used for medicinal purposes. In 2020, a fungus isolated from S. divaricata seeds was observed to cause root rot of seedlings and leaf and stem spot of adult plants in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang, China. Based on morphological and molecular data, isolates of all fungi were identified as Alternaria alternata. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata isolated from S. divaricata seeds in China. The carrying rate of S. divaricata seeds from 20 different collection sites reached 100% in 70% of the sites in Hulunbeier area, Inner Mongolia, China. The A. alternata isolate could infect the roots of cucumber, sorghum, mung bean, and maize seedlings and cause root rot. Considering the control of seed-associated fungal diseases, prochloraz 45% EW had the best control effect of 92.6%, followed by flusilazole 400 g liter-1 EC (88.9%) and azoxystrobin + propiconazole 18.7% SE (70.7%) of 15 fungicides. Further field control efficacy showed that 45% prochloraz EW had an 80% control efficacy on the disease at a dose of 0.225 g liter-1. It is recommended that soaking seeds and spraying are the best treatments for controlling seed-associated fungi and leaf spot on S. divaricata caused by A. alternata. Therefore, the aforementioned methods can effectively prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases of S. divaricata and provide a way to reduce reinfestation in the field.

High frequency of artemisinin partial resistance mutations in the Great Lakes region revealed through rapid pooled deep sequencing.

In Africa, the first Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin partial resistance mutation, was Kelch13 (K13) 561H - detected and validated at appreciable frequency in Rwanda in 2014. Surveillance to better define the extent of the emergence in Rwanda and neighboring countries is critical. We used novel liquid blood drop preservation combined with pooled sequencing to provide cost-effective rapid assessment of resistance mutation frequencies at multiple collection sites across Rwanda and neighboring regions in Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Malaria-positive samples (n=5,465) from 39 health facilities collected between May 2022 and March 2023 were sequenced in 199 pools. In Rwanda, K13 561H and 675V were detected in 90% and 65% of sites with an average frequency of 19.0% (0-54.5%) and 5.0% (0-35.5%), respectively. In Tanzania, 561H had high frequency in multiple sites. 561H appeared at 1.6% in Uganda. 561H was absent from the DRC, although 675V was seen at low frequency. Concerningly candidate mutations were observed: 441L, 449A, and 469F co-occurred with validated mutations suggesting they are arising under the same pressures. Other markers for decreased susceptibility to artemether-lumefantrine are common: P. falciparum multidrug resistance protein 1 N86 at 98.0% (63.3-100%) and 184F at 47.0% (0-94.3%) and P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter 76T at 14.7% (0-58.6%). Additionally, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-associated mutations show high frequencies. K13 mutations are rapidly expanding in the region further endangering control efforts with the potential of engendering partner drug resistance.

Evaluation of Praziquantel effectiveness in treating Nile tilapia clinostomid infections and its relationships to fish health and water quality

This study aimed to conduct a multidisciplinary investigation integrating detailed morphology, molecular characterization, water parameters, histopathology alteration, and the trials of treatment of Clinostomum spp. In this study, 300 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were collected from the farmed and wild Nile River at Al Bahr Al Aazam, Giza Governorate to assess Clinostomid infection prevalence. Fish and water samples were collected from private fish farms, and water drains at Dakahlia, and Giza, Egypt. Analysis of the water revealed inadequate water quality, particularly in the fish farms. Snails and piscivorous birds were abundant at fish collection sites. The recovered Clinostomid MCs morphological characteristics and COI gene sequence analysis identified them as Clinostomum complanatum, C. phalacrocoracis, and Euclinostomum heterostomum. Clinostomid MCs disturbed the fish’s hematological and biochemical blood parameters. Bath treatment of parasitized fish with praziquantel (2 mg/L for 24 h) revealed a significant reduction in the number of vital MCs vs. infected fish (non-treated). Praziquantel (PZQ) is an effective and safe therapy for controlling Clinostomid infections affecting farmed Nile tilapia. The current findings indicate a link between poor environmental conditions and Clinostomum infections in tilapia. The study highlights the impacts of Clinostomid MCs on fish health and recommends bath treatment with PZQ as an efficient control method for these dangerous parasites to protect human and fish health.

Fungal communities in three root herbs: Insights and implications

The roots of Astragali Radix (AM), Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR), and Codonopsis Radix (CR) are frequently used in classical tonic formulations and dietary supplements. Given the extended exposure of rhizomes to complex biological environments, it is necessary to investigate the fungal composition of their surface. In this study, the fungal communities in the three root herbs were analyzed by DNA metabarcoding, and an extensive comparison of the fungal diversity at each taxonomic level was carried out. Furthermore, we examined the effects of species, collection site, and processing method on the fungal community. In Astragali Radix and Codonopsis Radix samples, Cladosporium was the predominant genus, with relative abundances of 1.98 %-76.81 % and 1.69 %-85.59 %, respectively. Aspergillus (0.08 %–99.92 %) was the prevailing genus in Dioscoreae Rhizome samples. Meanwhile, a total of 12 potential toxigenic fungi were identified, including Aspergillus restrictus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium citrinum. Moreover, the variations in fungal diversity and community composition from different collection sites and processing approaches were observed. Linear discriminant analysis effect size indicated significant differences in the relative abundance of genera among the three root herbs. Gibberella and Mucor genera were significantly enriched in Astragali Radix samples, while Yarrowia and Cladosporium genera exhibited significant enrichment in Dioscoreae Rhizome and Codonopsis Radix samples, respectively (p≤0.001). This study presents novel insights into the fungal profiles of three root herbs, thereby providing references for their safe utilization and quality improvement.

A-313 Use of the Preeclampsia Ratio in the Prognosis of Preterm Delivery and Adverse Outcomes

Abstract Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that is characterized by high blood pressure and end-organ dysfunction with or without proteinuria after 20 weeks gestation. PE occurs in 6-8% of pregnancies and contributes to significant fetal, neonatal, and maternal morbidity and mortality. The ratio of two angiogenic placental proteins, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), are used in the management of PE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate use of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (PE ratio) generated using the ADVIA Centaur® and Atellica® IM sFlt-1 assay and the ADVIA Centaur and Atellica IM PlGF assays in the prognosis of preterm delivery and adverse outcomes in women presenting with signs and symptoms of PE. Methods A total of 654 females with singleton pregnancies between gestational weeks 20+0 days and 35+6 days and who had signs and symptoms of PE, but without severe features of PE were enrolled at 24 collection sites and followed prospectively for two weeks. Serum samples were collected at enrollment and adverse outcomes that included preterm delivery were prospectively collected within the two weeks after enrollment. Serum samples from approximately half of the population (n=316) were tested in singlicate using the sFlt-1 and PlGF assays on the ADVIA Centaur system in a derivation study that determined the optimal cutoff of the PE ratio in relation to adverse outcome. The remaining serum samples (n=338) were subsequently tested on the ADVIA Centaur system in a cut-off validation study that evaluated the clinical performance (sensitivity [SE], specificity [SP], positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV]) of the PE ratio at the derived cutoff in relation to adverse outcome. Method comparison studies were performed between the ADVIA Centaur versus the Roche Elecsys sFlt-1 and PlGF assays (n=255) and the ADVIA Centaur versus the Atellica IM sFlt-1 and PlGF assays (n=316). Results The rate of maternal adverse outcomes within two weeks was similar in the derivation study (32.3%) and validation study (28.1%). Using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with the derivation cohort, a derived cutoff of 38 showed optimal clinical performance of the PE ratio in relation to adverse outcome (SE=72.5%, SP=94.7%, PPV=84.6%, NPV=89.5%). Similar clinical performance results of the PE ratio at the cutoff of 38 in relation to adverse outcome were found with the verification cohort (SE=88.42%, SP=87.65%, PPV=73.68%, NPV=95.09%). Weighted Deming regression analysis demonstrated equivalency between the Centaur, Roche, and Atellica PE ratios with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.9242 (Centaur vs Roche) and 0.995 (Centaur vs Atellica). Conclusions Measurement of sFlt-1 and PlGF to determine PE ratio can be performed on either the ADVIA Centaur or Atellica Analyzer and can be used to identify women presenting with PE or signs and symptoms of PE who are at high risk of experiencing an adverse event in the subsequent two weeks. Not available for sale in the U.S.A. The products/features mentioned herein are not commercially available in all countries. Their future availability cannot be guaranteed.

Does the site, size, and number of necrotic collections affect the outcome of necrotizing pancreatitis? - a prospective analysis.

In patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), the site, size, and the number of acute necrotic collections (ANC) may determine the outcome of patients. The current study aimed to correlate the nature of ANC with the adverse outcomes in ANP patients. This was a single-center, prospective study (August 2019-August 2022) recruiting patients with ANP, correlating the site, size, and number of ANC with the length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, development of organ failure and infection, need for intervention, and mortality. A total of 114 patients (mean age: 37.3 ± 13.4 years, 85.1% males) with ANP were included in the study. The number and maximum diameter of collections significantly correlated with the length of the hospital and ICU stay and the need for intervention. Taking a cut-off size of 8cm, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the need for intervention were 82.7% and 74.2%, respectively. ANCs located in the perinephric, paracolic, subhepatic, and epigastric regions had a significant correlation with two or more adverse outcomes. Additional points were added to the modified CT severity index (mCTSI) based on the present study's findings. The new score had significantly higher AUROC than mCTSI for predicting infection, need for intervention, ICU stay > 1 week, and mortality. The site, size, and number of EPNs have a significant correlation with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with ANP. The inclusion of these parameters, along with present scoring systems, will help further improve the prognostication of patients.

Land snail Δ47 thermometry using cultured and European natural populations of Clausilia pumila, Succinella oblonga and Trochulus hispidus

Clumped isotope composition (Δ47) of aragonitic shells of terrestrial molluscs allow the quantitative reconstructions of continental paleotemperatures from loess-paleosol records of the last 2.5 million years, but it needs testing the method under controlled laboratory conditions and using natural populations. In this study the stable carbon, oxygen and clumped isotope compositions of cultured individuals and field-collected specimens of three species (Clausilia pumila, Succinella oblonga and Trochulus hispidus), widespread in Quaternary loess deposits in Europe, were measured in the Debrecen (ATOMKI) and ETH Zürich laboratories. Our data of cultured snails demonstrate that shells of the three species record Δ47 signatures close to equilibrium conditions with mostly positive (C. pumila), both positive/negative (T. hispidus), and mostly negative (S. oblonga) offsets on the order of 0.0158 ± 0.0105 ‰ (mean offset±1 SD) compared to the Anderson et al. (2021) unified calibration. Calcification temperatures (TΔ47) derived from C. pumila shells were found to be in excellent agreement with chamber temperatures of 12, 18 and 24 °C, especially in the ATOMKI laboratory (mean T offset: 2.1 ± 2.2 °C, 1 SD), while the other two species exhibited larger discrepancies on the order of 5–8 °C (mean offset). Single shell-based mean TΔ47 values of field-collected molluscs indicated growth temperatures spanning values from the frost-free period to summer season, or even above summer maxima. The sites of natural populations, characterized by different climate conditions, could be grouped using the aridity index (AI) with values of 0.96–1.06 representing mean temperature of the frost-free period (TFFP), and AI ranging either from 0.85 to 0.91 or 1.14 to 1.51 reflecting mean summer season or July temperatures (TJJA/TJ). Multi-shell TΔ47, obtained by homogenizing the material of 3–5 shells of C. pumila and T. hispidus, reflect TJJA in most cases. We observed a dependence of the shell oxygen isotope compositions of the three species on oceanity/continentality with more negative/positive values characteristic for more continental/oceanic sites, likely due to moisture source distance and depletion of rainfall in 18O towards the continental interior. In addition, deviation of body fluid δ18O values (derived from δ18Oshell and Δ47shell) from seasonal precipitation δ18O is also controlled by an additional temperature effect, being independent of the climate zone of the collection site, but co-varying with the site-specific difference between single shell TΔ47 and TJJA.

Presence of vitamin B12 metabolism in the last common ancestor of land plants.

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an essential organic cofactor for methionine synthase (METH), and is only synthesized by a subset of bacteria. Plants and fungi have an alternative methionine synthase (METE) that does not need B12 and are typically considered not to utilize it. Some algae facultatively utilize B12 because they encode both METE and METH, while other algae are dependent on B12 as they encode METH only. We performed phylogenomic analyses of METE, METH and 11 further proteins involved in B12 metabolism across more than 1600 plant and algal genomes and transcriptomes (e.g. from OneKp), demonstrating the presence of B12-associated metabolism deep into the streptophytes. METH and five further accessory proteins (MTRR, CblB, CblC, CblD and CblJ) were detected in the hornworts (Anthocerotophyta), and two (CblB and CblJ) were identified in liverworts (Marchantiophyta) in the bryophytes, suggesting a retention of B12-metabolism in the last common land plant ancestor. Our data further show more limited distributions for other B12-related proteins (MCM and RNR-II) and B12 dependency in several algal orders. Finally, considering the collection sites of algae that have lost B12 metabolism, we propose freshwater-to-land transitions and symbiotic associations to have been constraining factors for B12 availability in early plant evolution. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolution of plant metabolism'.