Individual Selection Research Articles

Dynamic Expansions and Retinal Expression of Spectrally Distinct Short-Wavelength Opsin Genes in Sea Snakes.

The photopigment-encoding visual opsin genes that mediate color perception show great variation in copy number and adaptive function across vertebrates. An open question is how this variation has been shaped by the interaction of lineage-specific structural genomic architecture and ecological selection pressures. We contribute to this issue by investigating the expansion dynamics and expression of the duplicated Short-Wavelength-Sensitive-1 opsin (SWS1) in sea snakes (Elapidae). We generated one new genome, 45 resequencing datasets, 10 retinal transcriptomes, and 81 SWS1 exon sequences for sea snakes, and analyzed these alongside 16 existing genomes for sea snakes and their terrestrial relatives. Our analyses revealed multiple independent transitions in SWS1 copy number in the marine Hydrophis clade, with at least three lineages having multiple intact SWS1 genes: the previously studied Hydrophis cyanocinctus and at least two close relatives of this species; Hydrophis atriceps and Hydrophis fasciatus; and an individual Hydrophis curtus. In each lineage, gene copy divergence at a key spectral tuning site resulted in distinct UV and Violet/Blue-sensitive SWS1 subtypes. Both spectral variants were simultaneously expressed in the retinae of H. cyanocinctus and H. atriceps, providing the first evidence that these SWS1 expansions confer novel phenotypes. Finally, chromosome annotation for nine species revealed shared structural features in proximity to SWS1 regardless of copy number. If these features are associated with SWS1 duplication, expanded opsin complements could be more common in snakes than is currently recognized. Alternatively, selection pressures specific to aquatic environments could favor improved chromatic distinction in just some lineages.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: review of international clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease

Background. Hidradenitis suppurativa hidradenitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease that develops after puberty and is characterized by the appearance of recurrent painful nodes, abscesses, the formation of fistula passages and scars on skin areas rich in apocrine sweat glands. Treatment of purulent hidradenitis is aimed at suppressing inflammation, relieving pain, preventing the formation of fistulas and scars. The objectives of this review. Summarize the information in the published international clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of purulent hidradenitis, their comprehensive assessment and comparison with each other. Methods. In the period from December 2022 to February 2023, scientific articles were searched in the PubMed database of the National Center for Biotechnological Information. Inclusion criteria: scientific articles in English, without date restrictions; interdisciplinary publications of specialists in which dermatovenereologists participated. Results. The analysis of the existing relevant international clinical recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of purulent hidradenitis indicates the absence of specific treatment schemes and algorithms, criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of therapy. In the treatment of purulent hidradenitis, the use of external keratolytics, antiseptics and antibiotics is recommended. Among systemic drugs, antibiotics, retinoids, immunosuppressive agents, hormonal drugs are used. The highest therapeutic efficacy in patients with purulent hidradenitis was shown by genetically engineered drugs that inhibit TNF-α and IL-17A. Conclusions. Patients with purulent hidradenitis require various treatment approaches, including a variety of surgical interventions, depending on the stage, severity, prescription of the disease and the general condition of the patient. The basic principle is the individual selection of the treatment method for a particular patient. In this regard, there is a need to develop domestic clinical guidelines for the management of patients with purulent hidradenitis.

Nomenclatural standards of spring barley cultivars bred by the Volga Scientific Research Institute of Selection and Seed-Growing named after P.N. Konstantinov

The article discusses the cultivars of spring two-row barley ‘Povolzhsky 22’, ‘Povolzhsky 49’, ‘Povolzhsky Yantar’, and ‘Povolzhsky Priz’ bred by the Volga Scientific Research Institute of Selection and Seed-Growing named after P.N. Konstantinov, a branch of the Samara Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The article describes the morphological, biological and economic characteristics of the cultivars. To prepare herbarium specimens of nomenclatural standards, plant material of cultivars ‘Povolzhsky 22’, ‘Povolzhsky 49’, and ‘Povolzhsky Yantar’ was used. These cultivars are represented by one herbarium sheet each and duplicated by 2, 1 and 3 sheets, respectively. A herbarium specimen of cultivar ‘Povolzhsky Priz’ has also been prepared, although State Variety Testing of the cultivar was not completed in 2023. This herbarium specimen will be registered as the nomenclatural standard of the cultivar when the latter will be included in the State Register.All herbarium specimens include whole plants at the milky ripeness stage, ears at the waxy ripeness stage, and grain samples. Appropriate plants were collected in Pushkin, in the fields of the “Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR” (St. Petersburg), and ears and grains were obtained from the Volga Scientific Research Institute of Selection and Seed-Growing named after P.N. Konstantinov (Samara Province).All materials used for preparing herbarium specimens of a cultivar are the offspring of plants obtained as a result of individual family selection. Herbarium specimens of nomenclatural standards, their duplicates and herbarium specimens of cultivar ‘Povolzhsky Priz’ were prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), registered in the VIR Herbarium database and transferred to the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR) at the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources.

Review: Flow Diversion for the Treatment of Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms.

The invention of flow diverting stents (FDS) is a novel milestone in the field of endovascular aneurysm therapy, promoting physiological healing of the vessel segment contrary to prior deconstructive treatment strategies, such as coiling. The effects of FDS are based on changes in flow patterns, segmental wall stabilization, and the growth of a neointima. Although flow diversion is already well established for cerebral aneurysms in proximal segments, peripheral locations remain challenging. Especially the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with its predominance of non-collateralized perforators and functional end arteries that supply the eloquent areas of the brain is of major concern.The literature was reviewed for flow diversion of the MCA and antiplatelet therapy.Resulting from the special anatomical characteristics of the MCA, FDS implantation in this territory is completely different from the proximal vessel segments. Still, flow diversion represents an effective endovascular strategy, especially in otherwise non-accessible or sufficiently treatable lesions. However, the risk of ischemic adverse events might be increased. Special attention to the individual decision regarding device selection, antiplatelet regimen, and exact definition of the proximal and distal landing zone considering the jailed side branches is essential for a good angiographic and clinical outcome. · MCA aneurysms can be sufficiently treated by FDS.. · The anatomic and hemodynamic characteristics of the MCA result in an increased risk of thromboembolism.. · Individual device selection and antiplatelet regimen are essential for treatment success.. · Schüngel M, Wohlgemuth WA, Elolf E et al. Review: Flow Diversion for the Treatment of Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2343-0046.

AI-based selection of individuals for supplemental MRI in population-based breast cancer screening: the randomized ScreenTrustMRI trial

Screening mammography reduces breast cancer mortality, but studies analyzing interval cancers diagnosed after negative screens have shown that many cancers are missed. Supplemental screening using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reduce the number of missed cancers. However, as qualified MRI staff are lacking, the equipment is expensive to purchase and cost-effectiveness for screening may not be convincing, the utilization of MRI is currently limited. An effective method for triaging individuals to supplemental MRI screening is therefore needed. We conducted a randomized clinical trial, ScreenTrustMRI, using a recently developed artificial intelligence (AI) tool to score each mammogram. We offered trial participation to individuals with a negative screening mammogram and a high AI score (top 6.9%). Upon agreeing to participate, individuals were assigned randomly to one of two groups: those receiving supplemental MRI and those not receiving MRI. The primary endpoint of ScreenTrustMRI is advanced breast cancer defined as either interval cancer, invasive component larger than 15 mm or lymph node positive cancer, based on a 27-month follow-up time from the initial screening. Secondary endpoints, prespecified in the study protocol to be reported before the primary outcome, include cancer detected by supplemental MRI, which is the focus of the current paper. Compared with traditional breast density measures used in a previous clinical trial, the current AI method was nearly four times more efficient in terms of cancers detected per 1,000 MRI examinations (64 versus 16.5). Most additional cancers detected were invasive and several were multifocal, suggesting that their detection was timely. Altogether, our results show that using an AI-based score to select a small proportion (6.9%) of individuals for supplemental MRI after negative mammography detects many missed cancers, making the cost per cancer detected comparable with screening mammography. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04832594.

Integrated scheduling of multi-constraint open shop and vehicle routing: Mathematical model and learning-driven brain storm optimization algorithm

Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest in integrated production and distribution scheduling problems which can achieve an overall optimization of the production and distribution activities. However, integrated scheduling of open shop and distribution receives rare attention in existing studies. This work proposes an integrated scheduling problem of multi-constraint open shop and vehicle routing to minimize maximum completion time, where group and transportation operations are considered together in the production process. All jobs are divided into multiple groups, and then handled in an open shop with multiple machines. Subsequently, the jobs are delivered to their corresponding customers. First, a mixed integer programming model is formulated to define the problem. Second, a Q-learning-driven brain storm optimization algorithm is developed to address the formulated model. A Q-learning method is employed to choose search strategies for generating new individuals rather than using fixed probability parameters straightforwardly as basic brain storm optimizers. In addition, the solution encoding, heuristic decoding, population initialization, clustering, new individual generation and selection methods are specially devised in consideration of problem-specific knowledge. At last, the developed model and algorithm are verified by addressing a set of benchmark instances, and comparison experiments are conducted with an exact solver CPLEX and four meta-heuristics from existing literature. The results validate the competitive advantages of the formulated model and algorithm in solving the considered problems.

Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Screening with Droplet Digital PCR Analysis of Fusobacterium nucleatum in Fecal Immunochemical Test Samples.

Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) followed by colonoscopy in positive cases is commonly used for population-based colorectal cancer screening. However, specificity of FIT for colorectal cancer is not ideal and has poor performance for advanced adenoma detection. Fecal Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) detection has been proposed as a potential noninvasive biomarker for colorectal cancer and advanced adenoma detection. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Fn detection using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in FIT samples from individuals enrolled in a colorectal cancer screening program with colorectal adenoma or cancer. We evaluated Fn presence in DNA isolated from FIT leftover material of 300 participants in a colorectal cancer screening program using ddPCR. The Fn DNA amount was classified as Fn-low/negative and Fn-high, and the association with patients' clinicopathological features and accuracy measurements was calculated. Fn-high levels were more prevalent in FIT-positive (47.2%, n = 34 of 72) than FIT-negative samples (28.9%, n = 66 of 228; P < 0.04). Among FIT-positive samples, high Fn levels were significantly more frequent in patients with cancer (CA, n = 8) when compared to normal (NT, n = 16; P = 0.02), non-advanced adenomas (NAA, n = 36; P = 0.01), and advanced adenomas (AA, n = 12; P = 0.01). Performance analysis of Fn in FIT-positive samples for colorectal cancer detection yielded an AUC of 0.8203 [confidence interval (CI), 0.6464-0.9942], with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity of 50%. Concluding, we showed the feasibility of detecting Fn in FIT leftovers using the ultrasensitive ddPCR technique. Furthermore, we highlighted the potential use of Fn levels in fecal samples to ameliorate colorectal cancer detection. Prevention Relevance: Fusobacterium nucleatum detection by droplet digital PCR could prioritize the selection of fecal immunochemical test-positive individuals who might benefit the most from the colonoscopy procedure.

The Photon-Counting CT Enters the Field of Cochlear Implantation: Comparison to Angiography DynaCT and Conventional Multislice CT.

Cochlear duct length (CDL) measurement plays a role in the context of individualized cochlear implant (CI) surgery regarding an individualized selection and implantation of the CI electrode carrier and an efficient postoperative anatomy-based fitting process. The level of detail of the preoperative temporal bone CT scan depends on the imaging modality with major impact on CDL measurements and CI electrode contact position determination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of perioperative CDL measurements and electrode contact determination in photon-counting CT (PCCT). Ten human fresh-frozen petrous bone specimens were examined with a first-generation PCCT. A clinically applicable radiation dose of 27.1 mGy was used. Scans were acquired before and after CI insertion. Postoperative measurement of the CDL was conducted using an otological planning software and 3D-curved multiplanar reconstruction. Investigation of electrode contact position was performed by two respective observers. Measurements were compared with a conventional multislice CT and to a high-resolution flat-panel volume CT with secondary reconstructions. Pre- and postoperative CDL measurements in PCCT images showed no significant difference to high-resolution flat-panel volume CT. Postoperative CI electrode contact determination was also as precise as the flat-panel CT-based assessment. PCCT and flat-panel volume CT were equivalent concerning interobserver variability. CDL measurement with PCCT was equivalent to flat-panel volume CT with secondary reconstructions. PCCT enabled highly precise postoperative CI electrode contact determination with substantial advantages over conventional multislice CT scanners.

Winter and spring frost events delay leaf-out, hamper growth and increase mortality in European beech seedlings, with weaker effects of subsequent frosts.

The persistence of plant populations depends crucially on successful regeneration. Yet, little is known about the effects of consecutive winter and spring frost events on the regeneration stage of trees from different seed sources, although this will partly determine the success of climate warming-driven poleward range shifts. In a common garden experiment with European beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings from winter 2015/2016 to autumn 2017, we studied how simulated successive spring and winter frost events affect leaf-out dates, growth performance, and survival rates of 1- to 2-year-old seedlings from provenances differing in climate at origin. We further investigated the combined effects of successive frost events. The first spring frost after germination led to a mortality rate up to 75%, resulting in reduced seedling numbers but better frost tolerance of the survivors, as reflected in a weaker impact of the following winter frost event in the survivors compared to the non-acclimated control. Final plant height was most strongly reduced by the spring frost in the second year. The winter frost event delayed leaf-out by up to 40 days, leading to severe growth impairment in 2017. Our results indicate partly successful frost acclimation and/or the selection of frost-hardier individuals, because the negative growth effects of consecutive frost events did not add up after exposure to more than one event. Both mechanisms may help to increase the frost tolerance of beech offspring. Nevertheless, mortality after the first spring frost was high, and frost exposure generally caused growth reductions. Thus, achieving higher frost tolerance may not be sufficient for beech seedlings to overcome frost-induced reductions in competitive strength caused by winter frost damage and delayed leaf enfolding.

Common double-lumen tube selection methods overestimate adequate tube sizes in individual patients – a 3D reconstruction study

BackgroundAppropriate selection of double-lumen tube sizes for one-lung ventilation is crucial to prevent airway damage. Current selection methods rely on demographic factors or 2D radiography. Prediction of left bronchial diameter is indispensable for choosing the adequate tube size. This prospective observational study investigates if current selection methods sufficiently predict individuals’ left bronchial diameters for DLT selection compared to the 3D reconstruction.Methods100 patients necessitating thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation and left-sided double-lumen tubes, ≥ 18 years of age, and a set of chest X-rays and 2D thorax CT scans for 3D reconstruction of the left main bronchus were included between 07/2021 and 06/2023. The cross-validated prediction error and the width of the 95%-prediction intervals of the 3D left main bronchial diameter utilizing linear prediction models were based on current selection methods.ResultsThe mean bronchial diameter in 3D reconstruction was 13.6 ± 2.1 mm. The ranges of the 95%-prediction intervals for the bronchial diameter were 6.4 mm for demographic variables, 8.3 mm for the tracheal diameter from the X-ray, and 5.9 mm for bronchial diameter from the 2D-CT scans. Current methods violated the suggested ‘≥1 mm’ safety criterion in up to 7% (men) and 42% (women). Particularly, 2D radiography overestimated women’s left bronchial diameter. Current methods even allowed the selection of double-lumen tubes with bronchial tube sections greater than the bronchial diameter in women.ConclusionsNeither demographic nor 2D-radiographic methods sufficiently account for the variability of the bronchial diameter. Wide 95%-prediction intervals for the bronchial diameter hamper accurate individual double-lumen tube selection. This increases women’s risk of bronchial damage, particularly if they have other predisposing factors. These patients may benefit from 3D reconstruction of the left main bronchus.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Genetic Variability and Character Association Analysis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Saline Water Condition

The study was conducted to evaluate eight germplasms/varieties of wheat during the rabi season (November-April, 2022–23) using a randomized block design with three replications at the research farm of Agricultural Research Sub-Station (ARSS), Nagaur (Rajasthan), India to estimate the variability parameters and characters association for nine characters. The results were revealed that mean sum of squares due to genotypes showed significant differences for all the nine characters under study, suggested that the genotypes were genetically divergent. The phenotypic coefficient of variation values was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation values for all the nine traits which reflect the influence of environment on the expression of traits. Spike length and number of spikelets were showed higher PCV and medium GCV. High heritability estimates were recorded for all the nine characters. High genetic advance as percentage of mean along with high heritability was observed for number of spikelets, spike length, number of effective tillers plant-1, seed yield and number of grains spike-1. This indicated the existence of lesser environmental influence and prevalence of additive gene action in their expression and these traits possessed high selective value. These characters could be further improved through individual plant selection. Grain yield had highly significant and positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations with plant height, number of effective tillers plant-1, spike length, number of spikelets and number of grains spike-1. These characters can be considered as criteria for selection for higher grain yield as these were mutually and directly associated with grain yield.

EST-SSR Mining and Characterization from Aquilaria malaccensis Transcriptome Shotgun Assembly

Aquilaria malaccensis is a member of Thymelaceae family which is one of the main trees producing agarwood compounds in Indonesia and has high economic value. A. malaccensis has Appendix II conservation status due to high exploitation in the nature. One of the several efforts to maintain agarwood production while also maintaining agarwood population is efficient induction by manipulation of the pathway for agarwood formation and using individuals with higher production of agarwood compounds. Selection of superior individuals can be done using molecular markers that are linked to certain genes, including microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSR). This study aimed to identify SSRs in the agarwood transcriptome and characterized SSR sites that are linked to genes involved in the synthesis of agarwood compounds. The transcriptome data used was extracted from the NCBI database with accession number GHJS00000000.1. SSR mining was carried out using Krait v.1.4.0 software, then BLASTed with the protein database to analyze the linkage with the related genes. Perfect SSRs were found in 0.37% of the total sequences, and compound SSRs were 10.89%. The abundance of imperfect SSR (107,043) was greater than perfect SSR (31,262), indicating that SSR in the transcriptome had a low mutation rate and the SSR site was more conserved in A. malaccensis. The SSRs that linked to genes related to agarwood synthesis including HMGR, PAL, Mevalonate Kinase, MAPK, Delta-guaiene synthase, Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, and Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. The discovery of SSRs linked to these genes can be used to create molecular markers that can be applied in agarwood producing trees selection.

Effects of Human Harvesting, Residences, and Forage Abundance on Deer Spatial Distribution.

It has been known that harvesting by humans strongly influences individual within-home range habitat selection of many deer species; however, little is known about the effect of harvesting on coarse-scale habitat selection (i.e., spatial distribution). We examined the summer spatial distribution of sika deer Cervus nippon in relation to human harvesting and other factors, such as human residences, forage abundance, and cover, using pellet group counts at Mount Fuji, central Japan, in 2018. In the study area, harvesting is conducted at medium elevation areas throughout the year, but not at high or low elevation areas where access is difficult or harvesting is prohibited. Spatial distribution of deer was significantly biased to non-harvesting areas and far from residential areas, suggesting that they avoid riskier spaces by establishing a landscape of fear. High-quality food resources (deciduous broad-leaved trees and forbs) were more abundant in harvesting areas than in non-harvesting areas, suggesting that foraging pressure by deer reduce them. However, there were no differences in abundances of more fibrous dwarf bamboo between harvesting and non-harvesting areas, and spatial distribution of deer was significantly biased to higher dwarf bamboo abundance areas, suggesting that the dwarf bamboo is an alternative food resource in non-harvesting areas where supplies of high-quality food were limited. Our results suggest that human harvesting pressure and residences shifted the spatial distribution of deer from the montane forests to subalpine/alpine zones, which may increase damage to vulnerable ecosystems due to severe foraging pressure.

Can biochemical tracers reveal ontogenetic trophic shift and individual prey selection in white sharks from Guadalupe Island, Northeast Pacific?

Refining the role of apex predators in marine food webs is a necessary step in predicting the consequences of their global decline under the footprint of fishing activities. White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are vulnerable predators, performing large migrations and able to forage on a variety of prey in different habitats. In the Northeast Pacific, juvenile and adult white sharks are found seasonally at the same aggregation sites, such as Guadalupe Island off Mexico. While adults are thought to target local pinniped colonies, very few predator-prey interactions have been documented and the diet of juveniles in this area remains poorly understood. Here we used carbon/nitrogen stable isotopes and fatty acids to characterize the trophic ecology of white sharks at Guadalupe Island. In contrast to the ontogenetic trophic shift paradigm, we detected no influence of size on muscle stable isotope and fatty acid composition, revealing no significant dietary variation between juvenile and adult sharks. Stable isotopes did not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn regarding the diet of white sharks at Guadalupe Island, due to significant variability in the contribution of different potential prey depending on the trophic discrimination factors used. However, most sharks were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as long-chain omega 3), suggesting a local diet of mainly pelagic prey (potentially large fish or cephalopods). A few individuals appeared to show recent consumption of pinnipeds, with higher proportions of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. These individual differences in fatty acid composition could reflect an ecological trade-off between consumption of prey rich in fat (marine mammals) versus prey rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (pelagic prey), respectively meeting the energetic and physiological needs of white sharks. Although ontogenetic trophic changes were not able to be discerned, our results provide new insights into the physiological drivers of predator-prey interactions, which can benefit the definition of conservation strategies in a changing ocean.

The contributions of green people management to the development of organizational competencies for sustainability

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the impact of green people management (GPM) practices on the development of organizational competencies for sustainability in Brazilian publicly traded companies.Design/methodology/approachTo validate the proposed model and hypotheses, a quantitative-descriptive methodological strategy was adopted, empirically investigated through a survey with publicly traded companies listed on B3 S.A. (Brazil, Stock and Exchange). The collected data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression.FindingsThe results indicate that green ability has a positive impact on the development of strategic and systemic competence for sustainability. Green motivation has a negative impact on the development of systemic and economic competencies for sustainability. Green opportunity positively impacts the development of strategic, systemic and economic competencies for sustainability.Practical implicationsIn terms of academic contributions, this study allowed for an empirical and comprehensive evaluation of variables related to GPM practices and their impact on the development of organizational competencies for sustainability, in line with the research agenda of the management field, focusing on outcomes for individuals (employees) and organizations.Originality/valueThe identification and possible implementation of certain GPM practices as a way to boost recruitment, selection, evaluation, rewards, recognition and involvement of individuals with green values and objectives, minimizing environmental and societal impacts, represent the main managerial and social contribution.

The biotic and abiotic contexts of ecological selection mediate the dominance of distinct dispersal strategies in competitive metacommunities.

While the influence of dispersal on ecological selection is the subject of intense research, we still lack a thorough understanding of how ecological selection operates to favour distinct dispersal strategies in metacommunities. To address this issue, we developed a model framework in which species with distinct quantitative dispersal traits that govern the three stages of dispersal-departure, movement and settlement-compete under different ecological contexts. The model identified three primary dispersal strategies (referred to as nomadic, homebody and habitat-sorting) that consistently dominated metacommunities owing to the interplay of spatiotemporal environmental variation and different types of competitive interactions. We outlined the key characteristics of each strategy and formulated theoretical predictions regarding the abiotic and biotic conditions under which each strategy is more likely to prevail in metacommunities. By presenting our results as relationships between dispersal traits and well-known ecological gradients (e.g. seasonality), we were able to contrast our theoretical findings with previous empirical research. Our model demonstrates how landscape environmental characteristics and competitive interactions at the intra- and interspecific levels can interact to favour distinct multivariate and context-dependent dispersal strategies in metacommunities. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'.

A many‐objective evolutionary algorithm based on bi‐direction fusion niche dominance

SummaryAlthough some many‐objective optimization algorithms (MaOEAs) have been proposed recently, Pareto dominance‐based MaOEAs still cannot effectively balance convergence and diversity in solving many objective optimization problems (MaOPs) due to insufficient selection pressure. To address this problem, a bi‐directional fusion niche domination is proposed. This method merges the strengths of cone and parallel decomposition directions in comparing dominations for nondominance stratification within the candidate population, augmenting the selection pressure of population. Subsequently, the crowding distance is introduced as an additional selection criterion to further refine the selection of nondominated individuals within the critical layer. Lastly, a MaOEA based on bi‐directional fusion niche dominance (MaOEA/BnD) is proposed, utilizing bi‐directional fusion niche dominance and crowding distance as important components of environmental selection. The performance of MaOEA/BnD was compared with five representative MaOEAs in 20 benchmark problems. Experimental results demonstrate that MaOEA/BnD effectively balances convergence and diversity when handling MaOPs with complex Pareto fronts.

Divergent ecological selection maintains species boundaries despite gene flow in a rare endemic tree, Quercus acerifolia (maple-leaf oak).

Strong gene flow from outcrossing relatives tends to blur species boundaries, while divergent ecological selection can counteract gene flow. To better understand how these two forces affect the maintenance of species boundaries, we focused on a species complex including a rare species, maple-leaf oak (Quercus acerifolia), which is found in only four disjunct ridges in Arkansas. Its limited range and geographic proximity to co-occurring close relatives create the possibility for genetic swamping. In this study, we gathered genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) from 190 samples of Q. acerifolia and three of its close relatives, Q. shumardii, Q. buckleyi, and Q. rubra. We found that Q. shumardii and Q. acerifolia are reciprocally monophyletic with low support, suggesting incomplete lineage sorting, introgression between Q. shumardii and Q. acerifolia, or both. Analyses that model allele distributions demonstrate that admixture contributes strongly to this pattern. Populations of Q. acerifolia experience gene flow from Q. shumardii and Q. rubra, but we found evidence that divergent selection is likely maintaining species boundaries: 1) ex situ collections of Q. acerifolia have a higher proportion of hybrids compared to the mature trees of the wild populations, suggesting ecological selection against hybrids at the seed/seedling stage; 2) ecological traits co-vary with genomic composition; and 3) Q. acerifolia shows genetic differentiation at loci hypothesized to influence tolerance of radiation, drought, and high temperature. Our findings strongly suggest that in maple-leaf oak, selection results in higher divergence at regions of the genome despite gene flow from close relatives.

Individual treatment selection for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: External validation of a personalised advantage index

Objective To test the predictive accuracy and generalisability of a personalised advantage index (PAI) model designed to support treatment selection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Method A PAI model developed by Deisenhofer et al. (2018) was used to predict treatment outcomes in a statistically independent dataset including archival records for N = 152 patients with PSTD who accessed either trauma-focussed cognitive behavioural therapy or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing in routine care. Outcomes were compared between patients who received their PAI-indicated optimal treatment versus those who received their suboptimal treatment. Results The model did not yield treatment specific predictions and patients who had received their PAI-indicated optimal treatment did not have better treatment outcomes in this external validation sample. Conclusion This PAI model did not generalise to an external validation sample.

Claiming the wall: How memorial plaques reshape urban landscapes in Russia

This article explores the significance of memorial plaques in Russian cities as sites of history, memory and aesthetics that create a new sensorium of the urban sphere. The plaques, affixed to historic buildings, serve as tangible markers that commemorate significant events and figures from the past. Taking the case of the historic center of St. Petersburg, the article examines how these plaques create a sense of historicity and contribute to the formation of a shared cultural background within the urban sphere. The plaques evolve from simple inscriptions to more elaborate and visually appealing designs. It also highlights the controversies surrounding the selection of individuals to be materialized and remembered and the aesthetic concerns raised by some residents. Meanwhile, the two contemporary projects challenge traditional commemorative practices and their aesthetics: Last Address, which commemorates victims of political repression through individualized plaques, and the Gandhi artist group’s street art interventions. These projects offer alternative approaches to memorialization and engage in dialogue with existing monuments and plaques. These micro-interventions show grassroot resistance within memorializing practices and aesthetics. The article emphasizes the contested nature of public space and the role of memorial plaques in shaping collective memory and historical narratives in Russian cities.