Contrasting Patterns Research Articles

Contrasting patterns for bacteria and archaea in response to salt stress across alpine wetlands of the Tibetan Plateau

Understanding microbial responses to environmental stress is crucial for comprehending their distribution and supporting conservation efforts. Yet, comprehensive evaluations of these responses across diverse microbial taxa within the framework of classical ecological theories are scarce. This gap limits our ability to predict the impact of environmental changes on the diversity and functions of soil microbes in natural settings. In this study, we conducted a field survey across twenty alpine wetlands on the Tibetan Plateau. Employing amplicon sequencing with network theories, we investigated the biodiversity and coexistence of bacteria and archaea under a wide range of natural salinity conditions. Our results demonstrated a linear decrease in bacterial diversity with increased salinity, while archaeal diversity showed a non-linear pattern, initially declining and then rising, reflecting varied adaptation strategies to salt stress. Network analysis revealed a heightened complexity in positive associations among bacteria under salt stress. In contrast, archaea exhibited a decrease in both positive and negative associations, with the community succession to halophiles. These results imply that bacteria may counteract stress through enhanced facilitation, whereas archaea predominantly rely on stress-tolerant taxa. Additionally, structural equation modeling confirmed our hypothesis regarding the ecological response strategies of bacteria and archaea to salinity stress, showing that the variation in bacterial diversity is mainly explained by the complexity of positive associations, whereas archaeal diversity directly correlates with salinity levels. Overall, this study offers novel insights into the ecological strategies of prokaryotes under salinity stress and enriches our understanding of the processes maintaining microbial diversity in stressful conditions.

Integrated Geotechnical and Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Map the Lithological Variability Involved and Breaking Surface Evolution in Landslide Context: A Case Study of the Targa Ouzemour (Béjaia)

The specific lithology of the southern part of Bejaia city represents a major limitation to urban settlement and expansion. This is partly due to landslides that tend to affect this region. To date, one of these landslides in this region has occurred in the Targa Ouzemour area, where the damage extended approximately six hectares. The main purpose of this study is to identify the failure surfaces characterizing the internal structure of this landslide as well as the significant influence of groundwater on slope instability, which manifests as surface cracking and subsidence. We have combined several geotechnical and geophysical methods, including field observations. The exploitation of the collected geotechnical data from the six (06) boreholes drilled in the landslide zone has allowed for knowledge to be gained on the lithological components, as well as the characterizations of physical and mechanical properties on a range of different types of affected rocks, whereas electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data allowed an in-depth examination, leading us to reconstruct the landslide geometry and particularly to evaluate the hydrological characteristics of the studied site. Moreover, the resistivity contrast patterns provided more clarity to discern between the various lithological formations that are still stable or actively moving within this landslide. All these findings have contributed to the construction of a characteristic geomodel that highlights the failure surfaces over which displacement is still experienced. Finally, with the evidence of rainfall effects on the deformation and stability of the slope, specific landslide remedial measures were accordingly suggested.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in India and its electrocardiography (ECG) comparison to myocardial infarction

BackgroundOwing to the limited research on Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM) in Asia, we aim to evaluate in detail the clinical profiles, lab parameters, investigations, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) seen in patients with TCM in the Indian subcontinent. Additionally, we have compared the electrocardiographic findings of patients with TCM to those of patients with myocardial infarction (MI).ResultsThe average age of the patients affected was found to be 60 ± 11 years. Women (87.5%) and patients with hypertension (40%) were found to be at an increased risk of developing the syndrome. The most common presenting symptom was dyspnea (48%) following a trigger most commonly emotional (45%). ST elevation and significant T wave inversions were observed in 40% of patients with TCM. Echocardiography revealed a low left ventricular ejection fraction of 43 ± 9%. Coronary angiography was normal in 60%, the rest had mild/subcritical stenoses. The 6-month MACE was 20% and the mortality rate was 7.5%. Follow-up echocardiography of patients with TCM showed improvement in EF in 75% patients.ConclusionsTCM was majorly seen in postmenopausal women following an emotional trigger, but a variety of other triggers were noted. T-wave inversions in TCM follow a diffuse pattern in contrast to specific leads seen in MI. Normal or subcritical stenosis in coronaries at presentation, along with a low EF which improves on follow up provide greater evidence for the diagnosis of TCM.

Contrasting trophic transfer patterns of cadmium and mercury in the Arctic marine food web of east Hudson Bay, Canada

We investigated trophic transfer of cadmium (Cd) through an Arctic marine food web in Hudson Bay and compared it with mercury (Hg), a metal known to strongly biomagnify. We evaluated blue mussel, sea urchin, common eider, sculpin, Arctic cod, and ringed seal for the influence of dietary and biological variables on variation in Cd and Hg concentrations. Age and size influenced metal concentrations among individuals within a vertebrate species. Consumer carbon and sulfur isotope values were correlated with their Cd and Hg concentrations, indicating habitat-specific feeding influenced metal bioaccumulation. Trophic transfer patterns for Cd depended on the vertebrate tissue, with food web biodilution observed for the muscle but not the liver. Liver Cd concentrations were higher in ringed seal and some common eider relative to prey. In contrast, we observed mercury biomagnification for both tissues. Tissue- and species-specific physiology can explain discrepancies of Cd trophic transfer in this Arctic marine food web.

Time to strategy failure and treatment beyond progression in pretreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients receiving nivolumab: post-hoc analysis of the Meet-URO 15 study.

Immunotherapies exhibit peculiar cancer response patterns in contrast to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Some patients experience disease response after initial progression or durable responses after treatment interruption. In clinical practice, immune checkpoint inhibitors may be continued after radiological progression if clinical benefit is observed. As a result, estimating progression-free survival (PFS) based on the first disease progression may not accurately reflect the actual benefit of immunotherapy. The Meet-URO 15 study was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 571 pretreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients receiving nivolumab. Time to strategy failure (TSF) was defined as the interval from the start of immunotherapy to definitive disease progression or death. This post-hoc analysis compared TSF to PFS and assess the response and survival outcomes between patients treatated beyond progression (TBP) and non-TBP. Moreover, we evaluated the prognostic accuracy of the Meet-URO score versus the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) score based on TSF and PFS. Overall, 571 mRCC patients were included in the analysis. Median TSF was 8.6 months (95% CI: 7.0 - 10.1), while mPFS was 7.0 months (95% CI: 5.7 - 8.5). TBP patients (N = 93) had significantly longer TSF (16.3 vs 5.5 months; p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (34.8 vs 17.9 months; p < 0.001) but similar PFS compared to non-TBP patients. In TBP patients, a median delay of 9.6 months (range: 6.7-16.3) from the first to the definitive disease progression was observed, whereas non-TBP patients had overlapped median TSF and PFS (5.5 months). Moreover, TBP patients had a trend toward a higher overall response rate (33.3% vs 24.3%; p = 0.075) and disease control rate (61.3% vs 55.5%; p = 0.31). Finally, in the whole population the Meet-URO score outperformed the IMDC score in predicting both TSF (c-index: 0.63 vs 0.59) and PFS (0.62 vs 0.59). We found a 2-month difference between mTSF and mPFS in mRCC patients receiving nivolumab. However, TBP patients had better outcomes, including significantly longer TSF and OS than non-TBP patients. The Meet-URO score is a reliable predictor of TSF and PFS.

Automated Discovery of Successful Strategies in Association Football

Using automated data analysis to understand what makes a play successful in football can enable teams to make data-driven decisions that may enhance their performance throughout the season. Analyzing different types of plays (e.g., corner, penalty, free kicks) requires different considerations. This work focuses on the analysis of corner kick plays. However, the central ideas apply to analyzing all types of plays. While prior analyses (univariate, bivariate, multivariate) have explored the link between contextual factors (e.g., match period, type of defensive marking) and the level of success of a corner kick (e.g., shot, shot on goal, goal), there has been no attempt to combine spatiotemporal event data (sequences of ball movements through the field) and contextual information to determine when and how (strategy) a particular type of corner kick play (tactic) is more likely to succeed or not. To address this gap, we propose an approach that (1) transforms spatiotemporal data into an alternative representation suitable for mining sequential patterns, (2) identifies and characterizes the sequential patterns used by offensive teams to move the ball toward the scoring zone (tactics), and (3) extracts contrast patterns to identify under what conditions different tactics result in increased chances of success or failure; we call these conditions strategies. Our results suggest that favorable and unfavorable conditions for tactic application are not the same across different tactics, supporting the argument that there is a benefit in performing an analysis that treats different tactics separately, where spatiotemporal information plays a crucial role. Unlike prior works on the corner kick, our approach can capture how the interaction between multiple contextual factors impacts the outcome of a corner kick. At the same time, the results can be explained to others in natural languages.

Contrasting patterns in pH variability in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Continuous understanding of the ongoing ocean acidification (OA) is essential for predicting the future impact of OA on marine ecosystems. Here we report the results of open ocean time-series measurements (19 cruises) of seawater pH in total hydrogen ion scale (pHT) and associated parameters in the Arabian Sea (AS) and the Bay of Bengal (BoB). During southwest monsoon (SWM), the pHT within the 30 to 100 m water column shows the maximum difference between the two basins with BoB pHT being lower (up to ~0.39 units) than AS which could be due to freshwater influx from rivers, mixed layer dynamics, and cold-core eddies. However, during Spring inter-monsoon (SIM), the pHT of BoB follows the trend of AS. A contrasting finding is that the lowest pHT occurs at 350 to 500 m in the BoB while it is ~1000 m in the AS. The pHT within the 150 to 1500 m layer of these two basins shows lower values by 0.03 (±0.02) in the BoB as compared to the AS. The possible reasons for the low pHT within the BoB oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) could be due to intrusion of western Pacific water in the BoB, freshwater influx from rivers, variations in OMZ of the two basins, higher temperature (~2°C) within the OMZ of the AS, anddenitrification in the AS. The pHT in both the basins (500 to 1000 m) is lower than in the North Atlantic and higher than in the North Pacific waters; however, the pHT in the 200 to 500 m is lower in the BoB than in all these basins. This study highlights the under-saturation of calcium carbonate at very shallow depths (~ 100 m) in the BoB, indicating that the plankton in the BoB are facing a major risk from OA compared to the AS and need further investigation.

Excavation of Hushed Voices: A Spatio-temporal Imaginary Discourse on Socio-ethics in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day

The concept of the ‘Great Chain of Being’, which influences the narrative style of the Renaissance Period of English Literature, depicts the hierarchical state of the old English Society. Suggestively, it’s a society driven by class/status and its attendant structures of inequality, discrimination and oppression. Hence, literary narratives of this period revolve round the travails of Kings and nobles, while subjecting the common men to the background. Subsequently, the esoteric state of the society, which was usually captured from the third person point of view, helps to question the place of truth in these literary narratives, as they could be liken to glossary reports from spectators, devoid of participant’ direct contribution(s). However, with the writing(s) of Kazuo Ishiguro, an Asian-British, there comes a direct feel of participant’s contribution in his narratives as he deconstructs the style of the old traditional English narratives in his novel, The Remains of the Day. Consequently, with the application of the first-person point of view in his novel, readers could explore the socio-cultural dispositions of every society and individual within the purview of ethics, politics and development. In furtherance, this study gives a historicized spatial alternate or temporal reality of an Old English society system - a system anchored on classism, professionalism and superficial orderliness devoid of ‘social interactions’ and freedom, especially for the workmen or common men. The emergence of an American Lord after the death of the English Lord gives a contrastive alternative pattern against that of the English. Hence, this alternate reflection of the American presence further deconstructs every long-held tradition in Darlington’s Hall as the author reveals that perceptions are influenced by cultural ingenuity which borders on the socio-cultural/socio-political formation of every society and individuals.

Construction and optimization of representative actual driving cycles based on the improved autoencoder

In this study, much work has been performed to accurately and efficiently develop representative actual driving cycles. Electric vehicle road tests were conducted and the associated data were gathered based on the manual driving method, and the Changsha Driving Cycle Construction (CS-DCC) method was proposed to achieve systematical construction of a representative driving cycle from the original data. The results show that the refined data exhibit greater stability and a smoother pattern in contrast to the original data after noise reduction by five-scale wavelet analysis. The Gaussian Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) algorithm is chosen to reduce the dimensionality of the characteristic matrix, and the number of principal components is selected as 5 with a cumulative contribution rate of 85.99%. The average error of the characteristic parameters between the optimized drive cycle and the total data is further reduced from 13.6 to 6.1%, with a reduction ratio of 55.1%. Meanwhile, the constructed driving cycle has prominent local characteristics compared with four standard driving cycles, demonstrating the necessity of constructing an actual driving cycle that reflects localized driving patterns. The findings present a powerful application of artificial intelligence in advancing engineering technologies.

Comparing Complications and Patient Satisfaction Following Injectable Collagenase Versus Limited Fasciectomy for Dupuytren's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a fibroproliferative disorder that manifests as an abnormal growth of myofibroblasts, causing nodule formation and contractures and affecting digit function. If left untreated, these contractures can lead to a loss of mobility and potentially impact hand function. This systematic review critically compares and evaluates the existing literature on the complications and patient satisfaction following injectable collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) versus limited fasciectomy (LF) for DD. We performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), The Cochrane Library, and Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) databases from 2006 to August 2023. This research targeted all clinical studies involving adults who underwent injectable collagenase and/or limited fasciectomy in the management of DD. Out of the 437 identified studies, only 53 were considered eligible for our analysis, and merely 14 met our inclusion criteria. These selected studies encompassed a total of 967 patients with 1,344 treated joints, with an average follow-up duration of 19.22 (ranging from one to 84.06) months. Within this cohort, 498 joints from 385 patients underwent LF, while 846 joints from 491 patients received CCH injections. Notably, among the 491 patients treated with CCH, 1,060 complications were reported, averaging 2.15 complications per patient, with the most common being contusion/bruising/hematoma/ecchymosis (22.54%), and edema/swelling (18.96%). In contrast, among the 385 patients treated with LF, only 97 complications were reported, translating to 0.25 complications per patient, with the most frequent being paraesthesia or numbness (23.7%), scar sequelae like skin laceration, tear, fissure, or hypertrophic scar (23.7%), and neuropraxia or nerve injury (22.6%). Our meta-analysis indicates that paraesthesia or numbness is more frequently observed in LF than CCH injections, although without statistical significance, with a risk ratio (RR) of 0.39 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-1.18, p-value 0.1). However, scar sequelae (hypertrophic scar, skin laceration, tear, or fissure) show a contrasting pattern, being more commonly associated with CCH injections than LF, with an RR of 1.98 (95% CI 0.26-14.85, p-value 0.51), which, upon eliminating the source of heterogeneity, becomes statistically significant, with an RR of 4.98 (95% CI 1.40-17.72, p-value 0.01). Our data revealed a higher frequency of complications with CCH compared to LF, although more severe adverse effects were observed in the LF group, such as neuropraxia or nerve injury. Scar sequelae were more common with CCH injections. Despite both treatments showing increased patient satisfaction at the final follow-up, CCH injection resulted in earlier improvements in satisfaction.

Contrasting patterns for endangered flora revealed by 60-year land-use change analysis

Land-use change analysis is widely accepted as a biodiversity conservation tool. However, it has seldom been used in the context of endangered plants. Our aim is to accurately quantify changes in land cover over the last 60 years in a selection of 58 populations of 43 Spanish threatened plants. Consequently, we explain how these changes correlate with major trends in biodiversity conservation such as human demography, ecological gradients or the spatial distribution of plant threats. A semi-automatic classification methodology is used to identify land-cover changes by comparing aerial photographs from 1956 to 2019 in an established radius around field plots. Secondly, information from field plots and external databases was analyzed using GIS layers and PCA statistics. Land use changes have been extensive and diverse. Tree and shrubland area have increased by 717.8 ha (an increase of 1.19 times compared to the initial situation) affecting most of the samples, whereas the urban area has increased by 168.8 ha (at a rate of 49 times from the initial values), although concentrated in certain populations. Land-use changes define two groups in the endangered flora: a first group is related to high human densities, low elevation settings and low in situ protection, while a second group is related to the cessation in human pressure, protected area establishment and increase in forest cover. The increase in forested area could be counterproductive. Urban land-use changes present a more urgent issue, especially for those endangered plants in coastal areas. Finally, high herbivore density and richness compromise endangered plant populations growing at high elevation in protected areas.

What are we missing? An alternative way to explore distributed leadership effectiveness

Existing research has revealed various beneficial teacher-level outcomes of distributed leadership (DL). Yet these studies lack important operational nuances. The DL effectiveness literature mainly stresses one dimension of DL study operations of how leadership is distributed (e.g., interaction), being grounded in the agency view. However, it is also important to consider other dimensions of what leadership work is distributed to whom. Therefore, our study adopted the study operation of one DL research stream derived from the structural view. Specifically, our research investigated which leadership function distribution patterns for teachers were connected to teacher-level outcomes, especially teachers’ current work environment satisfaction (SENV) and professional learning communities (PLCs). We employed Latent Class Analysis and U.S. lower secondary school teacher samples from the Teaching and Learning International Survey data. Two patterns emerged: the Dualistic Distribution and Fully Stretched-Over Distribution patterns. Importantly, the relationships between the two patterns and the teacher-level outcomes were varied. We discovered no mean difference in teacher SENV between the two patterns in contrast to the previous DL effectiveness research, but a significant mean difference in teachers’ PLCs. These findings suggest considering more operational nuances of what leadership work is distributed to teachers for what outcome to better explore DL effects on teachers.

Global burden study of lower respiratory infections linked to low temperatures: an analysis from 1990 to 2019.

Low temperature conditions have been linked to a heightened susceptibility to lower respiratory infections (LRIs). Yet, our comprehension of the LRIs' disease burden due to such conditions remains limited, especially when considering the diverse socio-demographic indexes (SDIs) and climate types across various nations and regions. We examined the variations over time and space in the impact of LRIs due to low temperatures across a diverse set of 204 nations and regions, each with unique SDIs and climate types, spanning the years 1990 to 2019. Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 was used for this retrospective analysis. The burden of LRIs attributable to low temperatures was estimated by stratifying by sex, age, country, climate type, and SDI, including age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (ASDR). We employed Joinpoint models to compute the annual average percent changes (AAPCs) in order to evaluate the trends in LRIs burden due to low temperatures from 1990 to 2019. Furthermore, we utilized Poisson age-period-cohort models to forecast the global and income-specific trends in LRIs burden due to low temperatures for the period 2020-2044. Generalized additive mixed models were used to fit changes in the disease burden of different climate regions. The relationship between SDI and both ASMR and ASDR was determined using models grounded in Gaussian process regression. In general, since the year 1990, there has been a significant reduction in the worldwide impact of LRIs due to low temperatures. This decrease is particularly noticeable among infants and the elderly, as well as in regions with a boreal climate and those with an average SDI. In 2019, LRIs induced by low temperatures showed an ASMR of 2.2 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.07) and an ASDR of 53.73 (95% CI: 17.5, 93.22) for every 100,000 individuals. A global reduction was observed in the ASMR and ASDR for LRIs over the period from 1990 to 2019, showing a decrease of 60.27% and 77.5%, in that order. For ASMR and ASDR, the AAPC values were found to be - 3.3 (95% CI: - 3.4, - 3.1) and - 5 (95% CI: - 5.2, - 4.9), in that order. However, a contrasting pattern was observed in southern Latin America, where an increase was noted in the ASMR for LRIs induced by low temperatures [AAPC: 0.5; 95% CI: (0.3, 0.8)]. Low temperature has decreased as an environmental risk factor for LRIs globally over 30years, especially in middle SDI regions and boreal climates, but remains important for infants and the elderly population.

New Lineaburmops fossils (Araneae: Lagonomegopidae) with contrasting color patterns from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, northern Myanmar

The fossil spider family Lagonomegopidae is widespread in the Cretaceous period, and mainly reported from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, northern Myanmar. Here, two new lagonomegopid species, belonging to the genus Lineaburmops, are described from Kachin amber: Lineaburmops longiantepes sp. nov. and Lineaburmops rhombus sp. nov., which showing similar contrasting body coloration as other Lineaburmops species. The compositional element of these special color patterns and their potential functions are discussed.

Contrasting patterns of genetic structure and population demography in two Dicraeus species feeding on bamboo flowers in Japan

Abstract Population outbreaks of insects provide an excellent opportunity to elucidate their evolutionary history. In this study, we uncovered the phylogenetic relationships of Dicraeus spp. in Japan and compared the population genetic structure of two bamboo-feeding Dicraeus spp., Dicraeus phyllostachyus and Dicraeus nartshukae, by leveraging a recent nationwide mass flowering event of several bamboo species in Japan. We performed analysis using mitochondrial COI gene sequencing and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms detected by multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). We found genetic similarity in COI haplotypes over a large geographical range in the two Dicraeus spp., but, for both species, no concordance was detected between the collected host plants and genetic structures. In the genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data, no clear genetic clusters were detected for D. phyllostachyus populations, whereas D. nartshukae populations were divided into two groups, in the north and south of Japan. Demographic analysis indicated that D. phyllostachyus had greatly expanded its population recently compared with D. nartshukae. These contrasting patterns between the two species might reflect the differences in the demographic history between the species. Our study suggested that the mass flowering event might cascade to the genetic structure of the florivorous insects through trophic interactions.

Percent body fat was negatively correlated with Testosterone levels in male.

Lower testosterone levels in men have been consistently associated with metabolic abnormalities, particularly obesity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between testosterone and obesity by analyzing the correlation between testosterone levels and body fat percentage using data from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) database. The study included a total of 5959 participants from the NHANES 2011-2016. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the association between testosterone levels and body composition parameters, including total percent fat (TPF), android percent fat (APF), gynoid percent fat (GPF), android to gynoid ratio (A/G), and lean mass percent (LMP). Subgroup analyses stratified by sex were conducted using multivariable linear regression. To account for potential non-linear relationships, fitted smoothing curves and generalized additive models were utilized. A separate analysis of participants with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 was conducted to validate the conclusions. Among males, testosterone levels showed a significant negative correlation with TPF (β = -11.97, P <0.0001), APF (β = -9.36, P<0.0001), GPF (β = -10.29, P <0.0001), and A/G (β = -320.93, P<0.0001), while a positive correlation was observed between LMP and testosterone levels (β = 12.62, P<0.0001). In females, a contrasting pattern emerged in the relationship between testosterone and body fat, but no significant correlation was found between testosterone and body composition in obese women. The findings of this study support a negative association between body fat and testosterone levels in males.

‘Wisp of smoke sign" - Spontaneous echogenic contrast in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy

Aim: To highlight the unique appearance of Spontaneous Echo Contrast (SEC) in the Left Ventricle of a patient with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and low ejection fraction Methods: Image and Video from Transthoracic echocardiography performed to assess cardiac function Results: 'Wisp of Smoke' pattern of echogenic contrast noted within the left ventricle Conclusion: While commonly noted in atria rather than ventricles, this echogenic pattern is a marker of low-velocity blood flow and lends itself to a higher probability of thromboembolic events.

OpenStreetMap for multi-faceted climate risk assessments

Natural hazards pose significant risks to human lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Understanding risks along all these dimensions is critical for effective adaptation planning and risk management. However, climate risk assessments mostly focus on population, economic asset values, and road or building infrastructure, because publicly available data on more diverse exposures are scarce. The increasing availability of crowd-sourced geospatial data, notably from OpenStreetMap, opens up a novel means for assessing climate risk to a large range of physical assets. To this end, we present a stand-alone, lightweight, and highly flexible Python-based OpenStreetMap data extraction tool: OSM-flex. To demonstrate the potential and limitations of OpenStreetMap data for risk assessments, we couple OSM-flex to the open-source natural hazard risk assessment platform CLIMADA and compute winter storm risk and event impacts from winter storm Lothar across Switzerland to forests, UNESCO heritage sites, railways, healthcare facilities, and airports. Contrasting spatial patterns of risks on such less conventional exposure layers with more traditional risk metrics (asset damages and affected population) reveals that risk hot-spots are inhomogeneously and distinctly distributed. For instance, impacts on forestry are mostly expected in Western Switzerland in the Jura mountain chain, whereas economic asset damages are concentrated in the urbanized regions around Basel and Zurich and certain train lines may be most often affected in Central Switzerland and alpine valleys. This study aims to highlight the importance of conducting multi-faceted and high-resolution climate risk assessments and provides researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers with potential open-source software tools and data suggestions for doing so.

Unraveling the MicroRNA tapestry: exploring the molecular dynamics of locoregional recurrent rectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent malignancy globally, with a concerning rise in incidence among young adults. Despite progress in understanding genetic predispositions and lifestyle risk factors, the intricate molecular mechanisms of CRC demand exploration. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as key regulators of gene expression and their deregulation in tumor cells play pivotal roles in cancer progression. NanoString's nCounter technology was utilized to measure the expression of 827 cancer-related miRNAs in tumor tissue and adjacent non-involved normal colon tissue from five patients with locoregional CRC progression. These expression profiles were then compared to those from the primary colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) cohort in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Intriguingly, 156 miRNAs showed a contrasting dysregulation pattern in reccurent tumor compared to their expression in the TCGA COAD cohort. This observation implies dynamic alterations in miRNA expression patterns throughout disease progression. Our exploratory study contributes to understanding the regulatory landscape of recurrent CRC, emphasizing the role of miRNAs in disease relapse. Notable findings include the prominence of let-7 miRNA family, dysregulation of key target genes, and dynamic changes in miRNA expression patterns during progression. Univariate Cox proportional hazard models highlighted miRNAs associated with adverse outcomes and potential protective factors. The study underscores the need for more extensive investigations into miRNA dynamics during tumor progression and the value of stage specific biomarkers for prognosis.

Contrasting patterns of decadal stability for shallow water sponge boulder assemblages and subtidal rocky cliffs at Lough Hyne, Ireland

Abstract Lough Hyne (LH) Marine Nature Reserve in Ireland is a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot that hosts mesophotic-like communities in shallow water, however, major changes have occurred to most of the rocky cliff (&gt;6 m) communities in one or more events between 2010 and 2015. To provide insights into these changes, we compared the sponge assemblage composition on the undersides of different sized, shallow (&lt;1 m) subtidal boulders between 2000 and 2022 at two sites in LH. We also measured sponge species richness at seven sites in 2018. We found that unlike earlier reports from the deeper subtidal reef sponge assemblages, there was no evidence for changes in sponge assemblage composition on the undersides of boulders at either site. We also found high levels of sponge species richness at all seven sites sampled in 2018. We did find differences in sponge assemblages between sites and for different boulder sizes, which we propose is a result of site-specific environmental conditions and disturbance and size–area relationships. Since we found no changes in the shallow subtidal sponge assemblages between 2000 and 2022, our results support the hypothesis that changes to the deeper subtidal sponge assemblages at LH are driven by local processes associated with deeper water in LH, potentially related to the seasonal oxythermocline that forms within LH. Given the national and global importance of LH, understanding the drivers of change is critical to determine if management actions can prevent any future alterations to the LH sponge assemblages and support wider mesophotic community management.