Future Survival Research Articles

Сучасні аспекти стійкого розвитку Поліського економічного регіону

Abstract. Introduction. The strategy of sustainable development is an extremely complex and extensive plan for predicting, preventing and solving problems on which depends the future survival of all living beings. It is quite difficult to operate with global goals without sufficient awareness of what is happening at the regional and local levels. Thus, a problem arises in the study of aspects of sustainable development of a specific economic region of Ukraine with the aim of determining its main properties and ways for improving regional policy. Purpose. Research of the current state of economy, ecology and social trends, definition of the main aspects and development of proposals for ways to improve and accelerate the sustainable development of the Polissya economic district. Results. Polissya economic district is a region where every global goal of sustainable development must be implemented at the local level, because economic sphere, environment, and society need considerable changes. Social sphere is dominated by depressive processes, the environment is constantly polluted by harmful emissions from enterprises and radiation pollution. All this factors directly affect the economy, which has lost its former potential and has focused only on extracting raw materials. The war became a catalyst for large-scale negative tendencies. But despite the factors listed above, Polissya economic district has a great potential in agro-industrial complex, tourism sector, and available renewable energy sources. Conclusions. Sustainable development should be completely supported by local population and government. Also implementation of environmental management system will be strong impulse for responsible and enhanced restoration of the environment, which will directly affect the condition of health of the local population.

Survival Pessimism and the Demand for Annuities

AbstractThe “annuity puzzle” refers to the fact that annuities are rarely purchased despite the longevity insurance they provide. Most explanations for this puzzle assume that individuals have accurate expectations about their future survival. We provide evidence that individuals misperceive their mortality risk and study the demand for annuities in a setting where annuities are priced by insurers on the basis of objectively-measured survival probabilities but in which individuals make purchasing decisions based on their own subjective survival probabilities. Subjective expectations have the capacity to explain significant rates of nonannuitization, yielding a quantitatively important explanation for the annuity puzzle.

Disparate population and holobiont structure of pocilloporid corals across the Red Sea gradient demonstrate species-specific evolutionary trajectories.

Global habitat degradation heightens the need to better understand patterns of genetic connectivity and diversity of marine biota across geographical ranges to guide conservation efforts. Corals across the Red Sea are subject to pronounced environmental differences, but studies so far suggest that animal populations are largely connected, excepting evidence for a genetic break between the northern-central and southern regions. Here, we investigated population structure and holobiont assemblage of two common pocilloporid corals, Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata, across the Red Sea. We found little evidence for population differentiation in P. verrucosa, except for the southernmost site. Conversely, S. pistillata exhibited a complex population structure with evidence for within-reef and regional genetic differentiation, in line with differences in their reproductive mode (P. verrucosa is a broadcast spawner and S. pistillata is a brooder). Analysis for genomic loci under positive selection identified 85 sites (18 of which were in coding sequences) that distinguished the southern P. verrucosa population from the remainder of the Red Sea population. By comparison, we found 128 loci (24 of which were residing in coding sequences) in S. pistillata with evidence for local adaptation at various sites. Functional annotation of the underlying proteins revealed putative roles in the response to stress, lipid metabolism, transport, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and ciliary function (among others). Microbial assemblages of both coral species showed pervasive association with microalgal symbionts from the genus Symbiodinium (former clade A) and bacteria from the genus Endozoicomonas that exhibited significant differences according to host genotype and environment. The disparity of population genetic and holobiont assemblage patterns even between closely related species (family Pocilloporidae) highlights the need for multispecies investigations to better understand the role of the environment in shaping evolutionary trajectories. It further emphasizes the importance of networks of reef reserves to achieve conservation of genetic variants critical to the future survival of coral ecosystems.

Analysis of the Development Path of TV Programs Based on the Background of the Development of Short Online Video

Today's media industry is developing rapidly. New media has gradually become the mainstream of development, such as Jitterbug, Racer and other short video development which has become an indispensable way for people to relax. In this fast-paced era, people need all aspects to be inseparable from the word "fast". The short video is aptly used to this point. Short and fast Short videos are a good use of this, spreading more information to the public in a short and fast form, allowing the public to grasp more comprehensive information on various aspects of current affairs compared to TV media. When TV programs are reproduced in their traditional mode, they are no longer able to meet the current way of life and relaxation. TV programs will naturally face the multiple challenges of losing audience resources and funding. Under such circumstances, TV programs need to review their development direction and format. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of development and the path for the future survival and development of television programs.

Species richness and the dynamics of coral cover in Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia.

Pressures on the world's tropical coral reefs that threaten their existence have been reported worldwide due to many stressors. Loss of coral cover and declines in coral richness are two of the most common changes often reported in coral reefs. However, a precise estimate of species richness and the coral cover dynamics for most Indonesian regions, particularly in the Bangka Belitung Islands, have been poorly documented. Annual monitoring data from 2015 to 2018 at 11 fixed sites in the Bangka Belitung Islands using the photo quadrat transect method identified 342 coral species from 63 genera. Of these, 231 species (>65%) were rare or uncommon, occurring in <40% of all sites. The species richness of hard corals was categorized as moderate compared to other studies in Indonesia, averaging 53 species across sites and years, and there was an increasing number of sites with high species richness. The percent cover of live and dead hard corals was greater than other benthic and substrate categories in all sites; revealing a live-dead hard corals pattern with dead coral cover averaged 12% higher than live hard coral across the years, but they did not show a significant difference (P>0.05). There was a slightly increasing trend in hard coral cover in ten out of 11 sites in 2018, indicating the reefs are in a recovery process. The results support the need to identify recovering or stable areas despite apparent anthropogenic and natural variations recently. This vital information is essential for early detection and preparation for management strategies in the current context of climate change and for ensuring future coral reef survival.

A Survival Model Based on the ASB Genes and Used to Predict the Prognosis of Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is increasing in incidence worldwide, with poor and unpredictable patient prognosis limited by diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. New genes are urgently needed to improve this situation. The ankyrin repeat and suppressor of the cytokine signaling (SOCS) box (ASB) family are a promising class of tumorigenesis-related genes. We examined the expression and mutation of 18 ASB genes in various tumors for this study. The findings revealed that ASB genes exhibit significant copy number variation (CNV) and single nucleotide variation (SNV). There were substantial variations in ASB gene expression in different tumor tissues, and different levels of methylation of ASB genes affected the gene expression and tumor progression. By applying LASSO regression analysis, we established a KIRC survival model based on five ASB genes (ASB6, ASB7, ASB8, ASB13, and ASB17). Additionally, ROC curve analysis was used to assess the survival model’s accuracy. Through univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis, we demonstrated that the model’s risk score might be an independent risk factor for individuals with KIRC. In summary, our KIRC survival model could accurately predict patients’ future survival. Further, we also quantified the survival model through a nomogram. This series of findings confirmed that ASB genes are potential predictive markers and targeted therapies for KIRC. Our KIRC survival model based on five ASB genes can help more clinical practitioners make accurate judgments about the prognosis of KIRC patients.

From perplexing to predictive: are we ready to forecast insect disease susceptibility in a warming world?

Insects are critical to our ecosystems, but we do not fully understand their future in our warming world. Rising temperatures are affecting insect physiology in myriad ways, including changes to their immune systems and the ability to fight infection. Whether predicted changes in temperature will contribute to insect mortality or success, and the role of disease in their future survival, remains unclear. Although heat can enhance immunity by activating the integrated defense system (e.g. via the production of protective molecules such as heat-shock proteins) and accelerating enzyme activity, heat can also compromise the immune system through energetic-resource trade-offs and damage. The responses to heat are highly variable among species. The reasons for this variability are poorly known, and we are lagging in our understanding of how and why the immune system responds to changes in temperature. In this Commentary, we highlight the variation in insect immune responses to heat and the likely underlying mechanisms. We suggest that we are currently limited in our ability to predict the effects of rising temperatures on insect immunity and disease susceptibility, largely owing to incomplete information, coupled with a lack of tools for data integration. Moreover, existing data are concentrated on a relatively small number of insect Orders. We provide suggestions for a path towards making more accurate predictions, which will require studies with realistic temperature exposures and housing design, and a greater understanding of both the thermal biology of the immune system and connections between immunity and the physiological responses to heat.

Defense System of the Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum under High-Temperature and Hydrogen Sulfide Conditions

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as an environmental toxin. Despite its toxicity, little is known about the defense strategies of marine bivalves against it. Thus, the tolerance, behavioral characteristics, and physiological response strategies against H2S treatment in the sentinel organism Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum were examined. We monitored the survival and behavioral status of Manila clams exposed to different combinations of temperature and H2S. The physiological response strategies were examined by measuring the enzymatic activity of cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), fumarate reductase (FRD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase enzymes (CAT). Moreover, adverse effects of H2S on the tissue and cell structure of Manila clams were also examined under a transmission electron microscope. Manila clams responded to H2S stress through behavioral and chemical defenses. With exposure to H2S alone, Manila clams primarily enhanced aerobic respiratory metabolic pathways in the beginning stages by opening the shell and increasing the CCO activity to obtain more oxygen; with increasing exposure time, when aerobic respiration was inhibited, the shell was closed, and FRD, CAT, and SOD were activated. At this point, Manila clams responded to H2S stress through the anaerobic metabolism and antioxidant defense systems. However, high temperatures (≥28 °C) altered the defense strategy of Manila clams. With co-exposure to high temperatures and high H2S concentrations (≥20 μmol/L), the Manila clams immediately closed their shells and changed from aerobic respiration to anaerobic metabolism while immediately activating antioxidant defense systems. Nevertheless, this defense strategy was short lived. In addition to this, apparent damage to tissue and cell structures, including mitochondrial ridge dissolution and many vacuoles, was observed in Manila clams exposed to high temperatures and high H2S concentrations. Thus, prolonged exposure to high temperature and H2S damages the tissue structure of Manila clams, affecting their behavioral capacity and future survival. In summary, profiling Manila clams' physiological response strategies to H2S exposure provided ecological behavioral support for our current understanding of H2S detrimental toxicity on marine bivalves.

Plant Species Composition and Diversity in Dalbergia melanoxylon Dominated Zones in Mitarure Forest Reserve in Kilwa District

The study was designed to assess the plant species composition and diversity in the Dalbergia melanoxylon dominated zone in Mitarure Forest Reserve and the nearby community forests particularly Ngea and Nambawala in Kilwa District, Tanzania. Thirty (30) circular concentric plots were established in the forest reserve and fifteen (15) plots in each of the two-community forest and used to collect vegetation data. The plant species diversity was determined using Shannon-Wiener diversity index, evenness, richness and Simpson and their indices were compared using ANOVA. Plant species diversity and evenness assessed in Mitarure Forest Reserve did not differ significantly from those from community forests. However, the plant species diversity based on Simpson index and richness were significantly higher in the Mitarure Forest Reserve compared to those in community forests. A total of 56 plant species were recorded in Mitarure forest reserve, 39 plant species in Ngea forest and 36 plant species in Nambawala forest. Mitarure forest reserve and the nearby community forests have high plant species diversity with a good stand characteristic of a typical natural forest. However, with an intensive human disturbance, the tree species composition decreases that needs an intervention through local community involvement. This strategy may contribute in the future survival of species and the natural forests in Kilwa District. Data from this study stand as baseline information for the future monitoring of the performance of stands in the natural forest ecosystem in the Dalbergia melanoxylon-dominated zones in Kilwa District.

The Role of Karang Taruna in the Development of Youth Groups in Bendungan Village, Kulon Progo Regency

The background of this research is as a form of a movement to break from delinquency and crime in the younger generation of Kuncen Hamlet, Bendungan Village, such as starting to try to consume drugs and alcohol, so that this problem is very worrying for their future survival and disturbing the surrounding environment. The formulation of the problem in this research is What is the Role of Youth Organizations in Developing Youth Groups in Kuncen Hamlet, Bendungan Village, Kulon Progo Regency. could harm him. This research use desciptive qualitative approach. The subjects in this study were youth organizations, youth, community leaders in the village of Pematang Seleng, by collecting observational data. Based on the results of the study, it showed that there were problems that occurred in the youth generation of Kuncen Hamlet, Bendungan Village, Wates sub-district.

Phenological response to climate variation in a northern red oak plantation: Links to survival and productivity.

In a changing climate, the future survival and productivity of species rely on individual populations to respond to shifting environmental conditions. Many tree species, including northern red oak (Quercus rubra), exhibit phenotypic plasticity, the ability to respond to changes in environmental conditions at within-generation time scales, through varying traits such as leaf phenology. Phenotypic plasticity of phenology may vary among populations within a species' range, and it is unclear if the range of plasticity is adequate to promote fitness. Here, we used a 58-year-old common garden to test whether northern red oak populations differed in phenological sensitivity to changes in temperature and whether differences in phenological sensitivity were associated with differences in productivity and survival (proxies of fitness). We recorded 8 years of spring leaf emergence and autumn leaf coloration and loss in 28 distinct populations from across the species' full range. Across the 28 populations, spring leaf out consistently advanced in warmer years, but fall phenology was less responsive to changes in temperature. Southern, warm-adapted populations had larger shifts in phenology in response to springtime warming but had lower long-term survival. Moreover, higher phenological sensitivity to spring warming was not strongly linked to increased productivity. Instead, fitness was more closely linked to latitudinal gradients. Although springtime phenological sensitivity to climate change is common across northern red oak populations, responses of productivity and survival, which could determine longer-term trajectories of species abundance, are more variable across the species' range.

The implications of the pandemic for the corporate governance, remuneration and sustainability performance of South African listed companies

The study examined the implications of the recent pandemic on the corporate governance, remuneration and corporate sustainability performance of South African listed companies. Data from 42 companies was analyzed using the panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) methods from 2010-2021. Findings revealed that the pandemic negatively impacted the selected companies. This study revealed that the pandemic had a good impact on some companies and not just bad ones as claimed by previous researchers. Results from COVID -19- related expenses, debt-to-equity ratios and staff costs revealed a negative but significant result in the estimated model. Other variables such as current ratios, net profit margins and board diversity revealed a positive and significant relationship with all the dependent variables. Hence, a very severe implication of the pandemic on the performance of companies is confirmed through COVID -19related expenses, staff costs and directors’ remuneration. These have a very strong negative impact on the future performance, survival, and sustainability of the selected companies. Lastly, a strong relationship between corporate governance and corporate sustainability performance was confirmed as shown by ROA, board size, directors’ remunerations and board diversity. This study provides insight for stakeholders such as governments, directors and policymakers to develop both preventive and proactive policies to protect and guide companies from future similar pandemics. To avert and prevent future negative implications on companies, this study recommends a well- structured scheme for all of the company’s staff, cash reserves and IT governance.

Reproductive history and breast cancer survival: Findings from the African breast cancer-Disparities in outcomes cohort and implications of Africa's fertility transition on breast cancer prognosis.

Reproductive characteristics are known risk factors for breast cancer but, other than recent birth, their role as prognostic factors is less clear, and has not been studied in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this setting, we examined whether reproductive factors independently influence breast cancer survival in a subset of the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes cohort study. In 1485 women with incident breast cancer recruited between 2014 and 2017, we examined birth cohort changes in reproductive factors, and used Cox models to examine whether reproductive characteristics were associated with all-cause mortality after adjusting for confounders (age, stage, treatment, HIV, and social factors). Four years after diagnosis, 822 (56%) women had died. Median parity was 4 (IQR=2, 6) and 209 (28%) of premenopausal women had had a recent birth (<3 years prior to cancer diagnosis). Each pregnancy was associated with a 5% increase (95% CI: 2%, 8%) in mortality rates, which held among postmenopausal women (5%, [1%-9%]). Pre-menopausal women with a recent birth had 52% (20%, 92%) higher mortality rates. Fertility trends by birth cohort showed declining parity, increasing age at first birth and declining age at last birth, however the impact of these population-level changes on future average survival was predicted to be very small (<3% absolute gain).

Eyes on the future: buffering increased costs of incubation by abandoning offspring

AbstractLife history theory states that the resources invested in current reproduction must be traded off against resources needed for survival and future reproduction. Long-lived organisms have a higher residual reproductive value and are therefore expected to be sensitive to reproductive investments that may reduce survival and future reproduction. Individuals within a population may vary in phenotypic quality, experience, access to resources etc. This may affect their optimal reproductive investment level. In this study we manipulated reproductive costs by shortening and extending the incubation period in common eiders Somateria mollissima without altering clutch size. Females whose incubation time was prolonged experimentally, suffered higher mass loss and increased clutch loss/nest desertion. These females were also more prone to abandon their brood after hatching. Both clutch loss and brood abandonment decreased with clutch size in all treatment categories, indicating higher phenotypic quality and/or better access to resources for females producing more eggs. However, although females with prolonged incubation were lighter at hatching, their return rate and breeding performance in the following year were unaffected. These results show that individual quality as expressed through clutch size and body mass is affecting current reproductive investment level as well as future survival and breeding performance. The results also show that individual birds are sensitive to changes in their own condition, and when reproductive effort is approaching a level where survival or future survival may be compromised, they respond by terminating their current reproductive attempt.

Modelling the current and future temperature suitability of the UK for the vector Hyalomma marginatum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Hyalomma marginatum is the main vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and spotted fever rickettsiae in Europe. The distribution of H. marginatum is currently restricted to parts of southern Europe, northern Africa and Asia, and one of the drivers limiting distribution is climate, particularly temperature. As temperatures rise with climate change, parts of northern Europe currently considered too cold for H. marginatum to be able to survive may become suitable, including the United Kingdom (UK), presenting a potential public health concern. Here we use a series of modelling methodologies to understand whether mean air temperatures across the UK during 2000-2019 were sufficient for H. marginatum nymphs to moult into adult stages and be able to overwinter in the UK if they were introduced on migratory birds. We then used UK-specific climate projections (UKCP18) to determine whether predicted temperatures would be sufficient to allow survival in future. We found that spring temperatures in parts of the UK during 2000-2019 were warm enough for predicted moulting to occur, but in all years except 2006, temperatures during September to December were too cold for overwintering to occur. Our analysis of the projections data suggests that whilst temperatures in the UK during September to December will increase in future, they are likely to remain below the threshold required for H. marginatum populations to become established.

Female Grass Wrens adjust brooding effort according to ambient temperature, male feeding contribution and nest placement

The keystone of life‐history evolution theory proposes a trade‐off between current reproductive effort and future survival. Brooding is an essential and often overlooked component of parental behaviour of altricial birds intended to transfer heat to nestlings. Brooding under challenging environmental conditions can be energetically demanding and may adversely affect adult survival and future reproduction. We provide the first detailed description of the brooding behaviour of a south temperate grassland specialist: the Grass Wren Cistothorus platensis. In Grass Wrens, both sexes collaborate in parental care; however, only females brood the nestlings. We examined the relationship of ambient temperature, male feeding contribution, nestling age, nest size and nest placement in determining brooding behaviour. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of brooding behaviour on nestling body condition near fledging and female apparent survival. Brooding effort decreased with nestling age. Females increased their brooding effort at low ambient temperature and when males delivered more food. At lower ambient temperatures, females increased brooding effort in nests placed further from plant edge, with taller plant heights and well‐concealed substrates. However, there was no relationship between brooding effort and nest size. Neither female investment in brooding nor the number of nestlings produced per female was associated with nestling body condition near fledging or female annual apparent survival. Our results identify several factors that shape brooding behaviour in this south temperate passerine, suggesting that females favour nestling thermal conditions under adverse weather conditions.

Use of period analysis to timely assess 5-year relative survival for breast cancer patients from Taizhou, Eastern China.

While timely assessment of long-term survival for patients with breast cancer is essential for evaluation on early detection and screening programs, those data are extremely scant in China. We aimed to derive most up-to-date survival estimates and to predict future survival using the cancer registry data from Taizhou city, Eastern China. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer during 2004-2018 from four cancer registries with high-quality data from Taizhou, Eastern China were included. Period analysis was used to calculate 5-year relative survival (RS) for the overall population and according to the stratification factors sex, age at diagnosis and geographic region. We further predict the upcoming 5-year RS during 2019-2023, using continuous data from three 5-year periods (2004-2008, 2009-2013 and 2014-2018) and a model-based period approach. Overall 6159 patients diagnosed with breast cancer during 2004-2018 were enrolled. The 5-year RS for breast cancer in 2014-2018 reached 88.8%, while women were higher compared to men (90.5% versus 83.7%) and urban areas were higher compared to rural areas (91.9% versus 86.7%). Additionally, we found a clear gradient by age at diagnosis, ranging from 94.8% for age<45 years to 83.3% for age>74 years. Projected overall 5-year RS for the upcoming 2019-2023 could reach 91.5% (84.8% for men and 93.5% for women). We provided, for first time in China, using period analysis, most up-to-date 5-year RS (88.8%) for patients with breast cancer from Taizhou, Eastern China. We also demonstrate the 5-year RS has improved greatly over last 15 years, which has important implications for timely evaluation of early detection and screening programs.

Future tree survival in European forests depends on understorey tree diversity

Climate change heavily threatens forest ecosystems worldwide and there is urgent need to understand what controls tree survival and forests stability. There is evidence that biodiversity can enhance ecosystem stability (Loreau and de Mazancourt in Ecol Lett 16:106–115, 2013; McCann in Nature 405:228–233, 2000), however it remains largely unclear whether this also holds for climate change and what aspects of biodiversity might be most important. Here we apply machine learning to outputs of a flexible-trait Dynamic Global Vegetation Model to unravel the effects of enhanced functional tree trait diversity and its sub-components on climate-change resistance of temperate forests (http://www.pik-potsdam.de/~billing/video/Forest_Resistance_LPJmLFIT.mp4). We find that functional tree trait diversity enhances forest resistance. We explain this with 1. stronger complementarity effects (~ 25% importance) especially improving the survival of trees in the understorey of up to + 16.8% (± 1.6%) and 2. environmental and competitive filtering of trees better adapted to future climate (40–87% importance). We conclude that forests containing functionally diverse trees better resist and adapt to future conditions. In this context, we especially highlight the role of functionally diverse understorey trees as they provide the fundament for better survival of young trees and filtering of resistant tree individuals in the future.

In Search of Drivers of CD34+/CD38-/CD26+ Leukemia Stem Cells Persistence in CML Patients

Introduction: In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients, we confirmed that the expression of CD26 discriminates CML Leukemic Stem Cells (LSCs) from normal Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) or from LSCs of other myeloid neoplasms. CD34+CD38-CD26+ cells are easily measurable in Peripheral Blood (PB) at diagnosis, and circulating residual CD26+LSCs persist in most patients during treatment with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) and after successful TKI discontinuation. The reason for LCSs persistence may be correlated to mechanisms helping their survival, such as resistance to apoptosis (via BCL-2 or CD47 expression) or immune checkpoint escaping (via PD-L1). Moreover, few is still known about the "activity state" or "quiescence" of CML LSCs. Aim of the study: to unravel phenotypic characteristics that could help CML LSCs persistence, evaluating by flow-cytometry the expression level of BCL-2 protein, PD-L1, CD47 and Ki67 on CD26+ LSCs population. Methods: Flow-cytometry assays were performed on PB from newly diagnosed CML patients by using lyophilized reagents (CD34-FITC, CD26-PE, CD38-APC, CD45-V500) and liquid reagents (CD47-V450, PD-L1-Cy7, BCL-2-FITC, Ki67-PerCP-Cy 5.5). Analysis have been done using a BD FACSLyric cytometer. Results: 47 newly diagnosed CML patients entered this study. With regards to PD-L1 expression on CD26+LSCs, 22/47 (47%) scored negative while 25/47 (53%) resulted positive, albeit with a quite variable percentage of expression (median 28.5 % of CD26+ cells, range 12-82.8 %). BCL-2 protein was expressed in 47/47 (100%) CD26+ LSCs, and the level of expression evaluated comparing the Mean Fluorescent Index (MFI) was found much lower on CD26+ LSCs than lymphocytes (median 5.98, range 1.90-32.14; median 17.20, range 7-76, respectively, p value <0.05). Regarding CD47 expression, 47/47 (100%) patients scored positive, with an MFI that is double on lymphocytes compared to CD26+ LSCs (median 26.58, range 5.70-87.09; median 13.22, range 5.64-33.22, respectively). Lastly, all 47/47 (100%) CD26+ LSCs were found Ki-67 positive. Conclusions: These preliminary results show that in newly diagnosed CML patients, Ki67 is highly expressed on circulating CD26+ LSCs, suggesting an unexpected "active proliferative state" of CD26+ LSCs, rather than a "quiescent" status. The latter may explain the rapid reduction of the bulk of CD26+LSCs we observe already at 3 months of TKI treatment. Both BCL-2 protein and CD47 are expressed at a higher level on lymphocytes than on CD26+ CML LSCs, indicating that the "don't eat me signal" that blocks apoptosis may not be relevant for CML LSCs persistence. On the other hand, CD26+/PD-L1+ LSCs (found in about 53% of CML patients) could theoretically escape the immune checkpoint controls, an aspect that could be taken in consideration for a future Treatment Free Survival (TFR) approach in CML patients as it may lead to a loss of molecular response compared to patients with CD26+ LSCs scoring negative for PD-L1. Additional studies need to be performed on a larger cohort of patients with a longer follow-up to support these hypotheses; however, these preliminary data may start to pave the way to understand the relationship between CD26+ LSC and immunity of CML patients.

Vegetation composition and ecological characteristics of the forest in the Shawilks Mountain Range from Western Himalayas

A vital criterion for the accurate assessment of biodiversity is the qualitative examination of vegetation, which provides essential data for comprehending the general structure and function of any ecosystem. There has been a lot of research on documentation criteria, but in many tropical and subtropical locations, like the Shawilks Mountain Range (a part of the Western Himalayan region), there are still few qualitative studies of forest biodiversity. Qualitative characters indicate how species are grouped or distributed or described. Documenting higher economically valued plants with commercial potential in forest biodiversity is essential to creating a more thorough and useful understanding of the flora for future survival. The current paper is built on the scientific characterization of the floristic, functional, and habitat diversity components of the forest flora found in the Shawilks hills in India. For the floristic studies, a random sampling technique was utilized to choose sites so that plant species in diverse habitats had an equal chance of being sampled. A total of 116 species from 99 genera and 46 families were identified from the study area. The patterns of species distribution among the families were unbalanced, with 24 families being monotypic and eight families contributing half of the species. The largest family, Asteraceae, contained 11% of all species, followed by Fabaceae, (10%). Twenty-four percent of the species were found growing in forests, while 17% were found in widely dispersed habitats along roadsides and 8% were found on pedestrian trails. The leading growth form was herbaceous (53%). Therophytes, indicating disturbed vegetation, were found to be the predominant life form according to the biological spectrum. According to the phytogeographical investigation, 67% of species were native, and 33% were alien. Twelve of the 38 alien species were invasive, 17 became naturalized, and nine were causal. Research on these patterns of functional and habitat variety can greatly advance our understanding of the ecological features of the local flora. Developing management strategies to enable sustainable use and improved management of the forest landscapes in this Himalayan region may also benefit from the information.