A brief introduction to mixed effects modelling and multi-model inference in ecology

Low genetic diversity, local-scale structure, and distinct genetic integrity of Korean chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) at the species range margin suggest a priority for conservation efforts

Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) is an ecologically and economically important species widely distributed across the North Pacific Ocean. However, the population size of this fishery resource has declined globally. Identifying genetic integrity, diversity and structure, and phylogenetic relationships of wild populations of O. keta over an entire species' range is central for developing its effective conservation and management plans. Nevertheless, chum salmon from the Korean Peninsula, which are comprised of its southwestern range margins, have been overlooked. By using mtDNA control region and 10 microsatellite loci, we here assessed the genetic diversity and structure for 16 populations, including 10 wild and six hatchery populations, encompassing the species entire geographic range in South Korea. The analyses showed that genetic diversity is significantly higher for wild than for hatchery populations. Both marker sets revealed significant genetic differentiation between some local populations. Comparisons of six wild and their respective hatchery populations indicated that allele/haplotype frequencies considerably differ, perhaps due to a strong founder effect and/or homogenizing of hatchery populations for stocking practice. Despite its single admixed gene pool for the Korean chum salmon, some local populations housing their own unique lineages should be accorded with a high priority to safeguard their genetic integrities. The results of our comparative analyses of the Korean population with other North Pacific chum salmons (inhabiting regions of Japan, Russia, and North America) revealed a lower diversity but higher contribution to the overall species-level genetic diversity, and also its unique genetic integrity. These findings advocate for the evolutionary significance of the Korean population for species-level conservation.

Loss of control may uniquely predict negative affect among the disinhibited eating experiences of high-risk young men

OBJECTIVE

Loss of control (LOC) eating is a disordered eating behavior that is prevalent but understudied among men. It is common for men with LOC eating to concurrently engage in diverse eating behaviors characterized as disinhibited. It remains unclear which eating qualities are most distressing for men. This study evaluated the link between disinhibited eating qualities and subsequent negative affect in young men.

METHODS

42 men (18-35 y) who reported engaging in ≥4 LOC eating episodes in the prior month completed a 14-day ecological momentary assessment protocol. For each meal and snack, participants were asked to rate the extent to which they felt they overate; lost control; ate more than planned; ate mindlessly; had concerns about wasting food; and were encouraged to eat more by others. State negative affect was evaluated during random intervals five times per day.

RESULTS

After adjusting for previous negative affect and time between ratings, five of the six eating qualities were significantly and positively associated with subsequent negative affect according to between-participant findings (ps < 0.026). In within-participant analyses, only LOC was significantly and positively associated with subsequent negative affect (p = 0.044).

DISCUSSION

While a range of disinhibited eating qualities are correlated with negative affect in a sample of young men, a sense of LOC while eating may be a promising target for interventions focused on improving the psychological functioning of high-risk young men.

Understanding the temporal dynamics of estimated environmental niche hypervolumes for marine fishes

Understanding how species respond to the environment is essential in ecology, evolution, and conservation. Abiotic factors can influence species responses and the multi-dimensional space of abiotic factors that allows a species to grow represents the environmental niche. While niches are often assumed to be constant and robust, they are most likely changing over time and estimation can be influenced by population biology, sampling intensity, and computation methodology. Here, we used a 12-year time series of survey data to fit annual ecological niche models (ENMs) for 10 marine fish species by using two regression and two machine learning algorithms to evaluate the variation and differentiation of environmental niches. Fitted ENMs were used to develop multi-dimensional annual and pooled hypervolumes that were evaluated over time and across ENM algorithms, species, and years by computing volume, distance, and dissimilarity metrics for each annual estimated niche. We then investigated potential drivers of estimated hypervolume dynamics including species abundance, species occurrence, sampling effort, salinity, red tides severity, and algorithm. Overall, our results revealed that estimated niches varied over time and across ENM, species, and algorithms. Niche estimation was influenced over time by multiple factors suggesting high complexity on niche dynamics interpretation. Species with high occurrence tended to have a closer representation of the pooled niche and years with higher abundance tended to produce niche expansion. ENM algorithm, sampling effort, seawater salinity, and red tides explained the deviations from the pooled niche. Greater sampling effort led to more comprehensive and complete estimates of species niches. High red tides severity triggered niche contraction. Our results emphasize the predictable effects of population, sampling, and environment on species niche estimation and interpretation, and that each should be considered when performing and interpreting ecological niche analyses. Our niche analysis approach may contribute to effectively quantifying and assessing niche dynamics.

The telomere regulatory gene POT1 responds to stress and predicts performance in nature: Implications for telomeres and life history evolution

Telomeres are emerging as correlates of fitness-related traits and may be important mediators of ecologically relevant variation in life history strategies. Growing evidence suggests that telomere dynamics can be more predictive of performance than length itself, but very little work considers how telomere regulatory mechanisms respond to environmental challenges or influence performance in nature. Here, we combine observational and experimental data sets from free-living tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to assess how performance is predicted by the telomere regulatory gene POT1, which encodes a shelterin protein that sterically blocks telomerase from repairing the telomere. First, we show that lower POT1 gene expression in the blood was associated with higher female quality, that is, earlier breeding and heavier body mass. We next challenged mothers with an immune stressor (lipopolysaccharide injection) that led to "sickness" in mothers and 24 h of food restriction in their offspring. While POT1 did not respond to maternal injection, females with lower constitutive POT1 gene expression were better able to maintain feeding rates following treatment. Maternal injection also generated a 1-day stressor for chicks, which responded with lower POT1 gene expression and elongated telomeres. Other putatively stress-responsive mechanisms (i.e., glucocorticoids, antioxidants) showed marginal responses in stress-exposed chicks. Model comparisons indicated that POT1 mRNA abundance was a largely better predictor of performance than telomere dynamics, indicating that telomere regulators may be powerful modulators of variation in life history strategies.

Social dominance and rainfall predict telomere dynamics in a cooperative arid-zone bird

In many vertebrate societies dominant individuals breed at substantially higher rates than subordinates, but whether this hastens ageing remains poorly understood. While frequent reproduction may trade off against somatic maintenance, the extraordinary fecundity and longevity of some social insect queens highlight that breeders need not always suffer more rapid somatic deterioration than their nonbreeding subordinates. Here, we used extensive longitudinal assessments of telomere dynamics to investigate the impact of dominance status on within-individual age-related changes in somatic integrity in a wild social bird, the white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali). Dominant birds, who monopolise reproduction, had neither shorter telomeres nor faster telomere attrition rates over the long-term (1-5 years) than their subordinates. However, over shorter (half-year) time intervals dominants with shorter telomeres showed lower rates of telomere attrition (and evidence suggestive of telomere lengthening), while the same was not true among subordinates. Dominants may therefore invest more heavily in telomere length regulation (and/or somatic maintenance more broadly); a strategy that could mitigate the long-term costs of reproductive effort, leaving their long-term telomere dynamics comparable to those of subordinates. Consistent with the expectation that reproduction entails short-term costs to somatic integrity, telomere attrition rates were most severe for all birds during the breeding seasons of wetter years (rainfall is the key driver of reproductive activity in this arid-zone species). Our findings suggest that, even in vertebrate societies in which dominants monopolise reproduction, dominants may experience long-term somatic integrity trajectories indistinguishable from those of their nonreproductive subordinates.

A Naturalistic Study Assessing the Impact of Daytime Running Lights and Vehicle Passing events on Cyclist's Physiological Stress

Bicyclists are vulnerable road users who are at a greater risk for injury and fatality during crashes. Additionally, the "near-miss" incidents they experience during regular trips can increase the perceived risk and deter them from riding again. This paper aims to use naturalistic bicycling data collected in Johnson County, Iowa to: 1) study the effect of factors such as road surface type, parked vehicles, pavement markings and car passing events on cyclists' physiological stress and 2) understand the effect of daytime running lights (DRL) as an on-bicycle safety system in providing comfort to cyclists and highlight of their presence on the road to other vehicles. A total of 37 participants were recruited to complete trips over two weekends, one weekend with DRL and the other without DRL. Recruitment was specifically targeted toward cyclists who expressed discomfort riding in traffic. Data were collected using a front forward facing camera, GPS, and a vehicle lateral passing distance sensor mounted on the bicycle and a Empatica E4 wrist band (providing physiological data such as electrodermal activity; EDA) worn by the cyclist. Data from those sources were cleaned, processed, merged, and aggregated into time windows depicting car passing and no car passing events. Mixed effects models were used to study the cyclists' skin conductance response (phasic EDA) and baseline skin conductance level (tonic EDA). Car passing, parked vehicles, and roads with dashed centerline markings were observed to increase the cyclists stress. The use of DRL had negligible impact on cyclist stress on roads.

Protocol for a pre-post, mixed-methods feasibility study of the Brain Bootcamp behaviour change intervention to promote healthy brain ageing in older adults

INTRODUCTION

Behaviour change interventions represent key means for supporting healthy ageing and reducing dementia risk yet brief, scalable behaviour change interventions targeting dementia risk reduction in older adults is currently lacking. Here we describe the aims and design of the three-month Brain Bootcamp initiative that seeks to target multiple dementia risk and protective factors (healthy eating, physical, social and cognitive inactivity), through the use of multiple behaviour change techniques, including goal-setting for behaviour, information about health consequences and physical prompts to change behaviours that reduce dementia risk among older adults. Our secondary aim is to understand participants' views of dementia prevention and explore the acceptability and integration of this campaign into daily life.

METHODS

Brain Bootcamp is a pre-post feasibility trial conducted in Sydney, Australia beginning in January 2021 until late August. Participants aged ≥65 years living independently in the community (n = 252), recruited through social media and flyers, will provide information about their demographics, medical history, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, mental health, physical activity, cognitive activity, and diet to generate a dementia risk profile at baseline and assess change therein at three-month follow-up. During the intervention, participants will receive a resource pack containing their individual risk profile, educational booklet on dementia risk factors and four physical items designed to prompt physical, social and mental activity, and better nutrition. Outcome measures include change in dementia risk scores, dementia awareness and motivation. A qualitative process evaluation will interview a sample of participants on the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.

DISCUSSION

This will be the first short-term multi-domain intervention targeting dementia risk reduction in older adults. Findings will generate a new evidence base on how to best support efforts targeting lifestyle changes and to identify ways to optimise acceptability and effectiveness towards brain health for older adults.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN 381046 (registered 17/02/2021); Pre-results.

Dissecting Complex Traits Using Omics Data: A Review on the Linear Mixed Models and Their Application in GWAS

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is the most popular approach to dissecting complex traits in plants, humans, and animals. Numerous methods and tools have been proposed to discover the causal variants for GWAS data analysis. Among them, linear mixed models (LMMs) are widely used statistical methods for regulating confounding factors, including population structure, resulting in increased computational proficiency and statistical power in GWAS studies. Recently more attention has been paid to pleiotropy, multi-trait, gene-gene interaction, gene-environment interaction, and multi-locus methods with the growing availability of large-scale GWAS data and relevant phenotype samples. In this review, we have demonstrated all possible LMMs-based methods available in the literature for GWAS. We briefly discuss the different LMM methods, software packages, and available open-source applications in GWAS. Then, we include the advantages and weaknesses of the LMMs in GWAS. Finally, we discuss the future perspective and conclusion. The present review paper would be helpful to the researchers for selecting appropriate LMM models and methods quickly for GWAS data analysis and would benefit the scientific society.

Development and validation of a dynamic deep learning algorithm using electrocardiogram to predict dyskalaemias in patients with multiple visits

Aims

Deep learning models (DLMs) have shown superiority in electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis and have been applied to diagnose dyskalaemias. However, no study has explored the performance of DLM-enabled ECG in continuous follow-up scenarios. Therefore, we proposed a dynamic revision of DLM-enabled ECG to use personal pre-annotated ECGs to enhance the accuracy in patients with multiple visits.

Methods and results

We retrospectively collected 168 450 ECGs with corresponding serum potassium (K⁺) levels from 103 091 patients as development samples. In the internal/external validation sets, the numbers of ECGs with corresponding K⁺ were 37 246/47 604 from 13 555/20 058 patients. Our dynamic revision method showed better performance than the traditional direct prediction for diagnosing hypokalaemia [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.730/0.720-0.788/0.778] and hyperkalaemia (AUC = 0.884/0.888-0.915/0.908) in patients with multiple visits.

Conclusion

Our method has shown a distinguishable improvement in DLMs for diagnosing dyskalaemias in patients with multiple visits, and we also proved its application in ejection fraction prediction, which could further improve daily clinical practice.

Positive Effects of Land Use Change on Wintering Bar-Headed Geese between 2010 and 2021

Human-induced land use change often drives species losses, yet some species can derive benefits from particular land use changes. Thus, case studies of how specific land use changes affect population size for species of interest are essential to their conservation. In this study, wintering bar-headed geese in Caohai, in Guizhou Province in China, were fitted with satellite trackers to assess their use of different land types and the impact of land use changes occurring between 2010 and 2021. We found that bar-headed geese preferentially spent time in arable lands, grasslands, and open water; most foraging occurred in cropland (59.5%) and grasslands (26.4%), while resting occurred in open water (68.3%) and in grasslands (43.5%). The population of wintering bar-headed geese in Caohai increased in size from 1366 to 2803 between 2010 and 2021. A concomitant decrease in cropland area (10.7%) and increase in open water (5.52%) and grasslands (48.45%) positively affected population growth. The use of abandoned croplands reduced human disturbance of goose foraging, while larger water and grassland areas provided more foraging and resting opportunities for bar-headed geese. Our study reveals a positive impact of recent land use changes on waterbird populations and provides a case study for managing human-wildlife relationships and protecting waterbirds and other wildlife.

Seventy years of tunas, billfishes, and sharks as sentinels of global ocean health

Fishing activity is closely monitored to an increasing degree, but its effects on biodiversity have not received such attention. Using iconic and well-studied fish species such as tunas, billfishes, and sharks, we calculate a continuous Red List Index of yearly changes in extinction risk over 70 years to track progress toward global sustainability and biodiversity targets. We show that this well-established biodiversity indicator is highly sensitive and responsive to fishing mortality. After ~58 years of increasing risk of extinction, effective fisheries management has shifted the biodiversity loss curve for tunas and billfishes, whereas the curve continues to worsen for sharks, which are highly undermanaged. While populations of highly valuable commercial species are being rebuilt, the next management challenge is to halt and reverse the harm afflicted by these same fisheries to broad oceanic biodiversity.

Spatiotemporal relationships of threatened cetaceans and anthropogenic threats in the lower Yangtze system

The impacts of fisheries interactions on cetaceans can be challenging to determine, often requiring multiple complementary investigative approaches. The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis), one of the few Critically Endangered cetaceans, is endemic to the middle-lower Yangtze drainage, a system impacted by multiple anthropogenic pressures. Bycatch mortality is implicated in regional porpoise decline, but the significance and dynamics of porpoise interactions with fishing activities and other threats remain poorly understood. We conducted boat-based surveys to map seasonal distributions and spatial congruence of porpoises and two potential threats (fishing and sand-mining), and an interview survey of fishing communities to understand temporal patterns and drivers of regional fishing activity, across Poyang Lake and the adjoining Yangtze mainstem. Variation in harmful and non-harmful gear use (non-fixed nets versus static pots and traps) between these landscapes might be an important factor affecting local porpoise status. Within Poyang Lake, spatial correlations between porpoises and threats were relatively weak, seasonal porpoise and threat hotspots were located in different regions, and two protected areas had higher porpoise encounter rates and densities than some unprotected sections. However, porpoise hotspots were mostly in unprotected areas, threats were widely observed across reserves, and more fishing and sand-mining was seasonally observed within reserves than within unprotected areas. Compared to null distributions, porpoises were detected significantly closer to fishing activities in summer and further from sand-mining in winter, indicating possible spatial risks of gear entanglement and disturbance. Reported porpoise bycatch deaths are associated with fixed and non-fixed nets, hook-based gears, and electrofishing. Longitudinal patterns in reported gear use indicate that hook-based fishing has decreased substantially and is generally conducted by older fishers, and significantly fewer respondents now practice fishing as their sole source of income, but electrofishing has increased. This combined research approach indicates a continued potential risk to porpoises from changing fisheries interactions and other threats, highlighting the importance of fishing restrictions and appropriate support for fishing communities impacted by this legislation. A potential “win–win” for both biodiversity and local livelihoods could be achieved through wider use of static pots and traps, which are not associated with bycatch deaths.

The neurobiological markers of acute alcohol's subjective effects in humans

The ingestion of alcohol yields acute biphasic subjective effects: stimulation before sedation. Despite their predictive relevance to the development of alcohol use disorders (AUD), the neurobiological markers accounting for the biphasic effects of alcohol remain poorly understood in humans. Informed by converging lines of evidence, this study tested the hypothesis that alcohol ingestion acutely increases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibition, which would positively and negatively predict the feeling of stimulation and sedation, respectively. To do so, healthy participants (n = 20) ingested a single dose of 94% ABV alcohol (males: 1.0 ml/kg; females: 0.85 ml/kg) in a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over design. The alcohol's biphasic effects were assessed with the Brief-Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale, and non-invasive neurobiological markers were measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation, before and every 30 min (up to 120 min) after the complete ingestion of the beverage. Results showed that acute alcohol ingestion selectively increased the duration of the cortical silent period (CSP) as compared to placebo, suggesting that alcohol increases non-specific GABAergic inhibition. Importantly, CSP duration positively and negatively predicted increases in the feeling of stimulation and sedation, respectively, suggesting that stimulation emerges as GABAergic inhibition increases and that sedation emerges as GABAergic inhibition returns to baseline values. Overall, these results suggest that modulations of GABAergic inhibition are central to the acute biphasic subjective effects of alcohol, providing a potential preventive target to curb the progression of at-risk individuals to AUD.

Comparison of ecosystem services provided by an urban and a riverine wetland: a multi-scale evaluation from lower Gangetic plain, Eastern India

Wetland ecosystems (WE) are considered the most productive ecosystems on the globe which provide a range of basic and critical ecosystem services (ES) to humans. However, WE are constantly being degraded because of a poor understanding of social benefits at a local level and the lack of recognition of economic values for ES at sub-national and national levels. This study aims to compare a peri-urban wetland with a riverine wetland from lower Gangetic plain, Eastern India, to identify the bundle of ES based on its perceived importance from multiple perspectives at a local level. Participatory research tools have been employed (i.e., key informant interviews, household survey, and field observation) for data collection. Based on rapid assessment of wetland ecosystem services (RAWES) approach, a priority ranking analysis was used to examine ES. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to find out significant differences in RAWES approach between riverine and peri-urban wetlands. Multiple regression model (MRM) was also performed to explore the impact of socio-demographic factors towards the perception of WES. Results showed that (i) the utilizations of WES largely vary between riverine and peri-urban wetland; (ii) provisioning and regulating ES were attributed relatively higher importance by the people of riverine and peri-urban wetlands in comparison to other ES; (iii) as per RAWES approach, the ESI value for riverine wetland was higher (0.58) than the peri-urban wetland (0.44) indicating the higher importance and dependence on WES; and (iv) population growth, expansion of settlement, climate change, and agricultural expansion were attributed as significant drivers of WE change (particularly for urban wetland). This study suggests the much-needed policy interventions and future pathways of research for developing effective measures to ensure livelihood sustainability of the dependent communities and to sustain (active) the ecosystem health of riverine and peri-urban wetlands.

Systemic racism alters wildlife genetic diversity

In the United States, systemic racism has had lasting effects on the structure of cities, specifically due to government-mandated redlining policies that produced racially segregated neighborhoods that persist today. However, it is not known whether varying habitat structures and natural resource availability associated with racial segregation affect the demographics and evolution of urban wildlife populations. To address this question, we repurposed and reanalyzed publicly archived nuclear genetic data from 7,698 individuals spanning 39 terrestrial vertebrate species sampled in 268 urban locations throughout the United States. We found generally consistent patterns of reduced genetic diversity and decreased connectivity in neighborhoods with fewer White residents, likely because of environmental differences across these neighborhoods. The strength of relationships between the racial composition of neighborhoods, genetic diversity, and differentiation tended to be weak relative to other factors affecting genetic diversity, possibly in part due to the recency of environmental pressures on urban wildlife populations. However, the consistency of the direction of effects across disparate taxa suggest that systemic racism alters the demography of urban wildlife populations in ways that generally limit population sizes and negatively affect their chances of persistence. Our results thus support the idea that limited capacity to support large, well-connected wildlife populations reduces access to nature and builds on existing environmental inequities shouldered by predominantly non-White neighborhoods.

Methods and reference data for middle ear transfer functions

Human temporal bone specimens are used in experiments measuring the sound transfer of the middle ear, which is the standard method used in the development of active and passive middle ear implants. Statistical analyses of these experiments usually require that the TB samples are representative of the population of non-pathological middle ears. Specifically, this means that the specimens must be mechanically well-characterized. We present an in-depth statistical analysis of 478 data sets of middle ear transfer functions (METFs) from different laboratories. The data sets are preprocessed and various contributions to the variance of the data are evaluated. We then derive a statistical range as a reference against which individual METF measurements may be validated. The range is calculated as the two-sided 95% tolerance interval at audiological frequencies. In addition, the mean and 95% confidence interval of the mean are given as references for assessing the validity of a sample group. Finally, we provide a suggested procedure for measuring METFs using the methods described herein.

Wetland cohesion is associated with increased probability of infection by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) poses a substantial threat to amphibian populations. Understanding the landscape conditions that facilitate Bd transmission and persistence is crucial for predicting Bd trends in amphibian populations. Here, we investigated the interactions between land use, wetland connectivity, and Bd occurrence and infection intensity. In northeastern Massachusetts, we sampled Pseudacris crucifer, Lithobates sylvaticus, L. clamitans, and L. pipiens from 24 sites. We found an overall 30.6% Bd prevalence at our sites, with prevalence differing among species. Bd occurrence increased with wetland-patch cohesion, potentially due to microclimate shifts from decreased forest or changes in host movement. Bd infection intensity was not mediated by landscape context. Overall, our results highlight the importance of landscape structure for Bd dynamics, suggesting that certain landscapes may facilitate transmission and harbor Bd more than others. To mitigate the impacts of Bd on amphibian populations, conservation efforts should account for interactions between Bd and landscape variables.

Vapour pressure deficit determines critical thresholds for global coffee production under climate change

Our understanding of the impact of climate change on global coffee production is largely based on studies focusing on temperature and precipitation, but other climate indicators could trigger critical threshold changes in productivity. Here, using generalized additive models and threshold regression, we investigate temperature, precipitation, soil moisture and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) effects on global Arabica coffee productivity. We show that VPD during fruit development is a key indicator of global coffee productivity, with yield declining rapidly above 0.82 kPa. The risk of exceeding this threshold rises sharply for most countries we assess, if global warming exceeds 2 °C. At 2.9 °C, countries making up 90% of global supply are more likely than not to exceed the VPD threshold. The inclusion of VPD and the identification of thresholds appear critical for understanding climate change impacts on coffee and for the design of adaptation strategies.

Biotic resistance or invasional meltdown? Diversity reduces invasibility but not exotic dominance in southern California epibenthic communities

High community diversity may either prevent or promote the establishment of exotic species. The biotic resistance hypothesis holds that species-rich communities are more resistant to invasion than species-poor communities due to mechanisms including greater interspecific competition. Conversely, the invasional meltdown hypothesis proposes that greater exotic diversity increases invasibility via facilitative interactions between exotic species. To evaluate the degree to which biotic resistance or invasional meltdown influences marine community structure during the assembly period, we studied the development of marine epibenthic “fouling” communities at two southern California harbors. With a focus on sessile epibenthic species, we found that fewer exotic species established as total and exotic richness increased during community assembly and that this effect remained after accounting for space availability. We also found that changes in exotic abundance decreased over time. Throughout the assembly period, gains in exotic abundance were greatest when space was abundant and richness was low. Altogether, we found greater support for biotic resistance than invasional meltdown, suggesting that both native and exotic species contribute to biotic resistance during early development of these communities. However, our results indicate that biotic resistance may not always reduce the eventual dominance of exotic species.

Comparison of rhinitis treatments using MASK-air® data and considering the minimal important difference

BACKGROUND

Different treatments exist for allergic rhinitis (AR), including pharmacotherapy and allergen immunotherapy (AIT), but they have not been compared using direct patient data (i.e., "real-world data"). We aimed to compare AR pharmacological treatments on (i) daily symptoms, (ii) frequency of use in co-medication, (iii) visual analogue scales (VASs) on allergy symptom control considering the minimal important difference (MID) and (iv) the effect of AIT.

METHODS

We assessed the MASK-air® app data (May 2015-December 2020) by users self-reporting AR (16-90 years). We compared eight AR medication schemes on reported VAS of allergy symptoms, clustering data by the patient and controlling for confounding factors. We compared (i) allergy symptoms between patients with and without AIT and (ii) different drug classes used in co-medication.

RESULTS

We analysed 269,837 days from 10,860 users. Most days (52.7%) involved medication use. Median VAS levels were significantly higher in co-medication than in monotherapy (including the fixed combination azelastine-fluticasone) schemes. In adjusted models, azelastine-fluticasone was associated with lower average VAS global allergy symptoms than all other medication schemes, while the contrary was observed for oral corticosteroids. AIT was associated with a decrease in allergy symptoms in some medication schemes. A difference larger than the MID compared to no treatment was observed for oral steroids. Azelastine-fluticasone was the drug class with the lowest chance of being used in co-medication (adjusted OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.71-0.80).

CONCLUSION

Median VAS levels were higher in co-medication than in monotherapy. Patients with more severe symptoms report a higher treatment, which is currently not reflected in guidelines.

Gut markers of bodily self-consciousness in men

Bodily self-consciousness, the state of mind that allows humans to be aware of their own body, forms the backdrop for almost every human experience, yet its underpinnings remain elusive. Here we combine an ingestible, minimally invasive capsule with surface electrogastrography to probe if gut physiology correlates with bodily self-consciousness in a sample of healthy men during a virtual bodily illusion. We discover that specific patterns of stomach and bowel activity (temperature, pressure, and pH) covary with specific facets of bodily self-consciousness (feelings of body location, agency, and disembodiment). These results uncover the hitherto untapped potential of minimally invasive probes to study the link between mental and gut states and show the significance of deep visceral organs in the self-conscious perception of ourselves as embodied beings.

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We studied the gastrointestinal (GI) underpinnings of bodily self-consciousness

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An ingestible pill tracked how GI parameters change during a bodily illusion

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GI activity was generally correlated with higher embodiment and lower disembodiment

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Gut plays a significant role in how our self embodies entities such as avatars

Analysis of the tendency to select the “neither nor” option in agreement/disagreement scales on a low – salience topic: The contribution of individual differences

This paper examines the frequency of midpoint responses in agree/disagree scales in a survey measuring attitudes toward science and scientific policy, a low-salience and difficult topic. It also examines the contribution of individual differences to explain the tendency to select this option. It is assumed that the use of the midpoint “Neither agree nor disagree” (NA/ND) in Agree/Disagree (A/D) scales is to some extent an indication of satisficing. It is also assumed that there are individual differences in respondents’ tendency to select the NA/ND response. Using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model we include Krosnick’s regulators of satisficing, socio-demographics and individual differences as predictors. We find that the contribution of the regulators of satisficing identified by Krosnick is small. In turn, factors associated with individual differences explain a great amount of variance on the number of NA/ND responses. We conclude that the presence of this option in a survey of a low-salience topic increases satisficing as strategy of the respondents to deal with the cognitive burden of both the A/D scale and the difficulty of the topic. Furthermore, the number of NA/ND responses may be understood as an indicator of individual differences in the propensity of respondents to satisficing when answering a survey on a low-salience or difficult topic.

The Paradoxical Role of Circulating Ketone Bodies in Glycemic Control of Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: High Risk, High Reward?

Introduction: Fasting plasma ketone bodies (KB) are elevated in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and could affect glycemic control and disease progression. Prolonged KB exposure may result in adaptive beneficial responses, counteracting glycemic dysregulation. In the current proof-of-concept study in adults with T2D, we hypothesized that fasting plasma KB are cross-sectionally associated with poorer glycemic control but prospectively with better glycemic control. Materials and Methods: Fasting plasma KB were measured via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with T2D treated in primary care (Zodiac cohort; The Netherlands). We analyzed the associations between KB and HbA1c at baseline using linear regression analyses and HbA1c changes over time using linear mixed models. We adjusted for potential confounders, including risk factors for poor glycemic control. Individuals with T2D participating in the general population-based PREVEND study were used as a replication cohort. Results: We included 271 individuals with T2D with a total of 859 HbA1c measurements during a follow-up period of 3.0 (2.0–3.2) years. At baseline, the total amount of fasting plasma KB was independently and positively associated with HbA1c levels (regression coefficient in the fully adjusted analysis = 0.31; 95% CI 0.06–0.57, per doubling of KB; p = 0.02). In contrast, in the longitudinal analyses, fasting plasma KB were associated with a yearly HbA1c (%) decrease of −0.10 (95% CI −0.19 to −0.00 per doubling baseline KB; p = 0.05). Results were replicated in 387 individuals with T2D from a general population cohort with a total of 1115 glucose measurements during a follow-up period of 7.5 (7.2–8.0) years. A yearly decrease in fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) of 0.09 was found per doubling of baseline KB. Conclusions: This study is the first to suggest a paradoxical role of circulating KB on glycemic control in T2D: elevated KB are associated with cross-sectionally poorer glycemic control but longitudinally with better long-term glycemic control.

Carbon metabolism and bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes in seagrass communities are altered under the presence of the tropical invasive alga Halimeda incrassata

Seagrass beds act as blue carbon sinks globally as they enhance the trapping of recalcitrant (i.e., low biodegradability) organic carbon in their sediments. Recent studies also show that the recalcitrant fraction of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool in seawater has an important role as long-term carbon sequestration in oceans. Although seagrasses are known for the large amount of DOC they export, little attention has been given to its biodegradability, which ultimately determinates its fate in the coastal carbon cycle. In turn, invasive algae are a major global concern in seagrass ecosystems since they can deeply modify their structure and functions, which may affect carbon metabolism and DOC release. This work assesses how the presence of Halimeda incrassata, an invasive tropical calcareous macroalga, modifies carbon metabolism and DOC fluxes in invaded areas dominated by the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. Our results show that stands with the presence of this seagrass (i.e., both monospecific and mixed meadow) had the highest production values, acting as high DOC producers in both winter (mainly of labile DOC; DOC_L) and summer (mainly as recalcitrant DOC; DOC_R). In contrast, monospecific H. incrassata beds exhibited low production values, and the presence of this macroalga (either as monospecific beds or mixed with C. nodosa) triggered the shift from a net DOC-producing-system in summer (mainly DOC_L) to a net DOC-consuming-system in winter. This work thus suggests that C. nodosa meadows have the potential to export a significant fraction of both labile and recalcitrant DOC, and that the spread of this invasive alga might decrease the C export capacity of seagrass meadows. Such shift would imply the reduction of a quick and efficient transfer of carbon and energy to higher trophic levels, and might reduce the blue carbon potential of seagrasses as dissolved form in the water column.

Streamlining sporozoite isolation from mosquitoes by leveraging the dynamics of migration to the salivary glands

Background

Sporozoites isolated from the salivary glands of Plasmodium-infected mosquitoes are a prerequisite for several basic and pre-clinical applications. Although salivary glands are pooled to maximize sporozoite recovery, insufficient yields pose logistical and analytical hurdles; thus, predicting yields prior to isolation would be valuable. Preceding oocyst densities in the midgut is an obvious candidate. However, it is unclear whether current understanding of its relationship with sporozoite densities can be used to maximize yields, or whether it can capture the potential density-dependence in rates of sporozoite invasion of the salivary glands.

Methods

This study presents a retrospective analysis of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes infected with two strains of the rodent-specific Plasmodium berghei. Mean oocyst densities were estimated in the midguts earlier in the infection (11–15 days post-blood meal), with sporozoites pooled from the salivary glands later in the infection (17–29 days). Generalized linear mixed effects models were used to determine if (1) mean oocyst densities can predict sporozoite yields from pooled salivary glands, (2) whether these densities can capture differences in rates of sporozoite invasion of salivary glands, and (3), if the interaction between oocyst densities and time could be leveraged to boost overall yields.

Results

The non-linear effect of mean oocyst densities confirmed the role of density-dependent constraints in limiting yields beyond certain oocyst densities. Irrespective of oocyst densities however, the continued invasion of salivary glands by the sporozoites boosted recoveries over time (17–29 days post-blood meal) for either parasite strain.

Conclusions

Sporozoite invasion of the salivary glands over time can be leveraged to maximize yields for P. berghei. In general, however, invasion of the salivary glands over time is a critical fitness determinant for all Plasmodium species (extrinsic incubation period, EIP). Thus, delaying sporozoite collection could, in principle, substantially reduce dissection effort for any parasite within the genus, with the results also alluding to the potential for changes in sporozoites densities over time to modify infectivity for the next host.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-022-04270-y.

Tracheal cellular immune response in chickens inoculated with Mycoplasma synoviae vaccine, MS-H or its parent strain 86079/7NS

Mycoplasma synoviae causes respiratory tract disease in chickens characterised by mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the tracheal mucosa. MS-H (Vaxsafe1 MS, Bioproperties Pty Ltd.) is an effective live attenuated vaccine for M. synoviae, but the immunological basis for its mechanism of protection has not been investigated, and the phenotypes of lymphocytes and associated cytokines involved in the local adaptive immune response have not been described previously. In this study, specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated intra-ocularly at 3 weeks of age with either M. synoviae vaccine strain MS-H or vaccine parent strain 86079/7NS (7NS), or remained uninoculated. At 2-, 7- and 21 days post-inoculation (dpi), tracheal mucosal pathology, infiltrating lymphocytes subsets and transcription levels of mRNA encoding 8 cytokines were assessed using light microscopy, indirect immunofluorescent staining and RT-qPCR, respectively. After inoculation, tracheal mucosal thickness, tracheal mucosal lesions, and numbers of infiltrating CD4⁺CD25^- cells, B-cells, and macrophages were greater in MS-H- and 7NS-inoculated chickens compared with non-inoculated. Inoculation with 7NS induced up-regulation of IFN-γ, while vaccination with MS-H induced up-regulation of IL-17A, when compared with non-inoculated birds. Both inoculated groups had a moderate infiltrate of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in the tracheal mucosa. These findings reveal that the tracheal local cellular response after MS-H inoculation is dominated by a Th-17 response, while that of 7NS-inoculated chickens is dominated by a Th-1 type response.

Hormones do not maketh the mole-rat: No steroid hormone signatures of subordinate behavioral phenotypes

In some cooperatively breeding groups, individuals have distinct behavioral characteristics that are often stable and predictable across time. However, in others, as in the eusocial naked mole-rat, evidence for behavioral phenotypes is ambiguous. Here, we study whether the naked mole-rat can be divided into discrete phenotypes and if circulating hormone concentrations underpin these differences. Naked mole-rat colonies consist of a single breeding female and large numbers of non-reproductive subordinates that in some cases can exceed several hundred in a colony. The subordinates can potentially be divided into soldiers, who defend the colony; workers, who maintain it; and dispersers, who want to leave it. We established six colonies de novo, tracked them over three years, and assessed the behavior and hormone concentrations of the subordinates. We found that soldiers tended to be from earlier litters and were higher ranked compared to workers, whereas dispersers were distributed throughout litters and rankings. There was no difference in estradiol, testosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations among phenotypes. Progesterone concentrations were higher in soldiers, but this difference appeared to be driven by a few individuals. Principal component analysis demonstrated that soldiers separated into a discrete category relative to workers/dispersers, with the highest ranked loadings being age, body mass, and testosterone concentrations. However, the higher testosterone in soldiers was correlated with large body size instead of strictly behavioral phenotype. Workers and dispersers have more overlap with each other and no hormonal differences. Thus the behavioral variation in subordinate naked mole-rats is likely not driven by circulating steroid hormone concentrations, but rather it may stem from alternative neural and/or neuroendocrine mechanisms.

Decreased initial pupil size and shortened constriction latency due to negative mood states and mental fatigue in clinical subacute pain models

Previous clinical studies on pupillary light reflex parameters showed shortened constriction latency (LAT) and decreased initial pupil size (INIT) due to increased numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, reflecting subjective pain intensity, in subacute pain models. As noxious stimulation causes pupil dilation, decreased INIT (pupil constriction) was an unexpected finding. Pain-related negative moods and mental fatigue might have caused this finding. We aimed to investigate how psychological states affect LAT/INIT in two subacute pain models. For psychological assessment, we used the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and calculated the total mood disturbance (TMD) score using six mood categories. We collected data on NRS scores, POMS-related scores, LAT, and INIT through a longitudinal study. Using linear mixed-effects models, we evaluated the association of TMD scores with NRS scores, LAT, and INIT. Furthermore, we performed subanalyses targeting two mood categories that represent mental fatigue: Fatigue-Inertia (Fatigue) and Vigor-Activity (Vigor). We investigated whether obtained results can be identical in both models. In total, 141 patients were enrolled. Increased NRS scores were associated with increased TMD/Fatigue scores and decreased Vigor scores, being associated with shortened LAT/decreased INIT in both models. Score changes in NRS, TMD, Fatigue, and Vigor indicated that increased subjective pain intensity can be associated with negative mood states, especially mental fatigue. This study revealed that negative moods and mental fatigue induced by acute pain can be associated with shortened LAT/decreased INIT in both models, indicating clinical potential of LAT/INIT as objective indicators reflecting the psychological states for pain assessment.

The spatial and temporal exploitation of anthropogenic food sources by common ravens (Corvus corax) in the Alps

BACKGROUND

Anthropogenic food sources (AFSs) are widespread in human-transformed landscapes and the current scale at which they occur drives ecological change at the individual, population, and community levels. AFSs are exploited extensively by common ravens, Corvus corax. Understanding how raven populations use AFSs can provide insight into their ecological responses to AFSs.

METHODS

We equipped 81 ravens in the Austrian Alps with GPS-transmitters over a period of 2.75 years. Using these tracking data, we investigated how cohort differences (i.e., age, sex, and origin) and seasonal changes influence raven movement patterns (i.e., occurrence distribution and maximum daily displacement) and AFS-use (i.e., number of AFSs visited and probability of being present at any AFS) at 45 extensively exploited sites.

RESULTS

We found that proxies for experience and dominance, inferred by age (i.e., juvenile versus adult) and origin (i.e., wild-caught versus captive-bred-released) cohorts, influenced movement patterns and the number of AFSs visited. However, all individuals were equally likely to be present at AFSs, highlighting the importance of AFSs for non-breeders in the study population. Seasonal changes in environmental conditions that affect energetic demands, the availability of natural and anthropogenic food, and foraging competition,  influenced individuals' occurrence distributions and AFS-use. We found that under harsher conditions in autumn and winter, individuals ranged wider and depended on AFSs to a larger degree. However, contrary to expectation, they were less likely to be present at AFSs in these seasons compared to spring and summer, suggesting a trade-off between time spent moving and exploiting resources. We attribute the small ranging movements exhibited by non-breeders in spring and summer to the presence of highly territorial and socially dominant breeders. As breeders mostly stay and forage within their territories during these seasons, competition at AFSs decrease, thereby increasing the likelihood of individuals being present at any AFS.

CONCLUSIONS

We emphasize that movement and AFS-use differ according to cohort differences and the seasonality of the environment. Our results highlight that predictable AFSs affect foraging strategies among non-breeding ravens. The extent of AFS-exploitation among non-breeding ravens in our study emphasize the potential of AFSs in shaping raven movement and resource-use.

The role of temporal coherence and temporal predictability in the build-up of auditory grouping

The cochlea decomposes sounds into separate frequency channels, from which the auditory brain must reconstruct the auditory scene. To do this the auditory system must make decisions about which frequency information should be grouped together, and which should remain distinct. Two key cues for grouping are temporal coherence, resulting from coherent changes in power across frequency, and temporal predictability, resulting from regular or predictable changes over time. To test how these cues contribute to the construction of a sound scene we present listeners with a range of precursor sounds, which act to prime the auditory system by providing information about each sounds structure, followed by a fixed masker in which participants were required to detect the presence of an embedded tone. By manipulating temporal coherence and/or temporal predictability in the precursor we assess how prior sound exposure influences subsequent auditory grouping. In Experiment 1, we measure the contribution of temporal predictability by presenting temporally regular or jittered precursors, and temporal coherence by using either narrow or broadband sounds, demonstrating that both independently contribute to masking/unmasking. In Experiment 2, we measure the relative impact of temporal coherence and temporal predictability and ask whether the influence of each in the precursor signifies an enhancement or interference of unmasking. We observed that interfering precursors produced the largest changes to thresholds.

Predictability and transferability of local biodiversity environment relationships

Background

Biodiversity varies in space and time, and often in response to environmental heterogeneity. Indicators in the form of local biodiversity measures-such as species richness or abundance-are common tools to capture this variation. The rise of readily available remote sensing data has enabled the characterization of environmental heterogeneity in a globally robust and replicable manner. Based on the assumption that differences in biodiversity measures are generally related to differences in environmental heterogeneity, these data have enabled projections and extrapolations of biodiversity in space and time. However so far little work has been done on quantitatively evaluating if and how accurately local biodiversity measures can be predicted.

Methods

Here I combine estimates of biodiversity measures from terrestrial local biodiversity surveys with remotely-sensed data on environmental heterogeneity globally. I then determine through a cross-validation framework how accurately local biodiversity measures can be predicted within ("predictability") and across similar ("transferability") biodiversity surveys.

Results

I found that prediction errors can be substantial, with error magnitudes varying between different biodiversity measures, taxonomic groups, sampling techniques and types of environmental heterogeneity characterizations. And although errors associated with model predictability were in many cases relatively low, these results question-particular for transferability-our capability to accurately predict and project local biodiversity measures based on environmental heterogeneity. I make the case that future predictions should be evaluated based on their accuracy and inherent uncertainty, and ecological theories be tested against whether we are able to make accurate predictions from local biodiversity data.

Retinal ganglion cell desensitization is mitigated by varying parameter constant excitation pulse trains

Retinal prostheses partially restore vision in patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One issue that limits the effectiveness of retinal stimulation is the desensitization of the retina response to repeated pulses. Rapid fading of percepts is reported in clinical studies. We studied the retinal output evoked by fixed pulse trains vs. pulse trains that have variable parameters pulse-to-pulse. We used the current clamp to record RGC spiking in the isolated mouse retina. Trains of biphasic current pulses at different frequencies and amplitudes were applied. The main results we report are: (1) RGC desensitization was induced by increasing stimulus frequency, but was unrelated to stimulus amplitude. Desensitization persisted when the 20 Hz stimulation pulses were applied to the retinal ganglion cells at 65 μA, 85 μA, and 105 μA. Subsequent pulses in the train evoked fewer spikes. There was no obvious desensitization when 2 Hz stimulation pulse trains were applied. (2) Blocking inhibitory GABA_A receptor increased spontaneous activity but did not reduce desensitization. (3) Pulse trains with constant charge or excitation (based on strength-duration curves) but varying pulse width, amplitude, and shape increased the number of evoked spikes/pulse throughout the pulse train. This suggests that retinal desensitization can be partially overcome by introducing variability into each pulse.

Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes

The expansion of human infrastructure has contributed to novel risks and disturbance regimes in most ecosystems, leading to considerable uncertainty about how species will respond to altered landscapes. A recent assessment revealed that whooping cranes (Grus americana), an endangered migratory waterbird species, avoid wind-energy infrastructure during migration. However, uncertainties regarding collective impacts of other types of human infrastructure, such as power lines, variable drought conditions, and continued construction of wind energy infrastructure may compromise ongoing recovery efforts for whooping cranes. Droughts are increasing in frequency and severity throughout the whooping crane migration corridor, and the impacts of drought on stopover habitat use are largely unknown. Moreover, decision-based analyses are increasingly advocated to guide recovery planning for endangered species, yet applications remain rare. Using GPS locations from 57 whooping cranes from 2010 through 2016 in the United States Great Plains, we assessed habitat selection and avoidance of potential disturbances during migration relative to drought conditions, and we used these results in an optimization analysis to select potential sites for new wind energy developments that minimize relative habitat loss for whooping cranes and maximize wind energy potential. Drought occurrence and severity varied spatially and temporally across the migration corridor during our study period. Whooping cranes rarely used areas &lt;5 km from human settlements and wind energy infrastructure under both drought and non-drought conditions, and &lt;2 km from power lines during non-drought conditions, with the lowest likelihood of use near wind energy infrastructure. Whooping cranes differed in their selection of wetland and cropland land cover types depending on drought or non-drought conditions. We identified scenarios for wind energy expansion across the migration corridor and in select states, which are robust to uncertain drought conditions, where future loss of highly selected stopover habitats could be minimized under a common strategy. Our approach was to estimate functional habitat loss while integrating current disturbances, potential future disturbances, and uncertainty in drought conditions. Therefore, dynamic models describing potential costs associated with risk-averse behaviors resulting from future developments can inform proactive conservation before population impacts occur.

Phenotypic variation from waterlogging in multiple perennial ryegrass varieties under climate change conditions

Identifying how various components of climate change will influence ecosystems and vegetation subsistence will be fundamental to mitigate negative effects. Climate change-induced waterlogging is understudied in comparison to temperature and CO2. Grasslands are especially vulnerable through the connection with global food security, with perennial ryegrass dominating many flood-prone pasturelands in North-western Europe. We investigated the effect of long-term waterlogging on phenotypic responses of perennial ryegrass using four common varieties (one diploid and three tetraploid) grown in atmospherically controlled growth chambers during two months of peak growth. The climate treatments compare ambient climatological conditions in North-western Europe to the RCP8.5 climate change scenario in 2050 (+2°C and 550 ppm CO2). At the end of each month multiple phenotypic plant measurements were made, the plants were harvested and then allowed to grow back. Using image analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) methodologies, we assessed how multiple predictors (phenotypic, environmental, genotypic, and temporal) influenced overall plant performance, productivity and phenotypic responses. Long-term waterlogging was found to reduce leaf-color intensity, with younger plants having purple hues indicative of anthocyanins. Plant performance and yield was lower in waterlogged plants, with tetraploid varieties coping better than the diploid one. The climate change treatment was found to reduce color intensities further. Flooding was found to reduce plant productivity via reductions in color pigments and root proliferation. These effects will have negative consequences for global food security brought on by increased frequency of extreme weather events and flooding. Our imaging analysis approach to estimate effects of waterlogging can be incorporated into plant health diagnostics tools via remote sensing and drone-technology.

Evolution of a novel female reproductive strategy in Drosophila melanogaster populations subjected to long-term protein restriction

Reproductive output is often constrained by availability of macronutrients, especially protein. Long-term protein restriction, therefore, is expected to select for traits maximizing reproduction even under nutritional challenge. We subjected four replicate populations of Drosophila melanogaster to a complete deprivation of yeast supplement, thereby mimicking a protein-restricted ecology. Following 24 generations, compared to their matched controls, females from experimental populations showed increased reproductive output early in life, both in presence and absence of yeast supplement. The observed increase in reproductive output was without associated alterations in egg size, development time, preadult survivorship, body mass at eclosion, and life span of the females. Further, selection was ineffective on lifelong cumulative fecundity. However, females from experiment regime were found to have a significantly faster rate of reproductive senescence following the attainment of the reproductive peak early in life. Therefore, adaptation to yeast deprivation ecology in our study involved a novel reproductive strategy whereby females attained higher reproductive output early in life followed by faster reproductive aging. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the cleanest demonstrations of optimization of fitness by fine-tuning of reproductive schedule during adaptation to a prolonged nutritional deprivation.

Perinatal excellence to reduce injury in preterm birth (PERIPrem) through quality improvement

Perinatal Excellence to Reduce Injury in Premature Birth (PERIPrem) is an 11-element perinatal care bundle designed to improve outcomes for preterm babies, in line with the National Health Service (NHS) Long Term plan. Designed in collaboration with 12 NHS Trusts (secondary care hospitals), South West and West of England Academic Health Science Networks, South West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network, parent partners and clinical experts, implementation was via bespoke quality improvement (QI) methodology. Before project initiation, there was regional variation in uptake of elements, evidenced by baseline audit. Optimisation of the preterm infant is complex; eligibility for treatments is dependent on gestation and local policies. Preterm infants experience variability in care dependent on the place of birth, and there remains an implementation gap for several effective, evidence-based treatments.The PERIPrem ambition is to reduce severe brain injury and death caused by prematurity by at least 50% through the delivery of a perinatal care bundle. The PERIPrem approach resulted in improved element implementation by 26% (from 3% to 29%) between 2019 and 2021, with dyads significantly more likely to receive the full bundle in 2021 compared with 2019 (probability=0.96 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.99), p<0.001). When examining the impact on psychological safety and team-working of PERIPrem, linear mixed models indicated an improvement in team function (p=0.021), situation monitoring (p=0.029) and communication within teams (p=0.002). Central to success was the development of a committed multiorganisational collaborative that continues to drive perinatal improvement using a common language and streamlining processes. In addition to saving the lives of the most vulnerable babies, PERIPrem aims to improve the chances of disability-free lives and is successfully nurturing high-functioning perinatal teams with enhanced QI skills.

Playing hide and seek: Distribution with depth of potentially harmful epibenthic dinoflagellates of Southern El Hierro Island, Canary Islands (NE Atlantic)

The study of epibenthic assemblages of harmful dinoflagellates (BHABs) is commonly conducted in shallow infralittoral zones (0 - 5 m) and are seldom investigated at deeper waters. In this study, the distribution with depth of five BHAB genera (Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Coolia and Amphidinium) was investigated in the south of El Hierro island (Canary Islands, Spain). Sampling involved the use of a standardized artificial substrate deployed at three depth levels (5, 10 and 20 m) that were visited at three different times throughout one year. The influence of three depth-correlated abiotic parameters, i.e. light, water motion and water temperature, on the vertical and seasonal distribution of the BHAB assemblage was also assessed. Two vertical distribution patterns were observed consistently through time: cell abundances of Ostreopsis and Coolia decreased from 5 to 20 m while those of Gambierdiscus, Prorocentrum and Amphidinium showed the reverse pattern, although significant differences were only observed between 5 and 10 - 20 m depth. In April, two members of the latter group, Gambierdiscus and Amphidinium, were even absent at 5 m depth. The recorded environmental parameters explained a high percentage of the observed distribution. In particular, model selection statistical approaches indicated that water motion was the most significant parameter. An analysis of Gambierdiscus at species level revealed the co-occurrence of four species in the study area: G. australes, G. belizeanus, G. caribaeus and G. excentricus. The species G. excentricus, reported here for the first time in El Hierro, showed a more restricted vertical and seasonal distribution than the other species, which may explain not being detected in previous studies in the area. The results obtained in this study highlight the importance of considering a wider depth range and different seasons of the year when investigating the ecology of BHABs and assessing their risk and impacts on human health and the environment. Only then, efficient monitoring programs will be implemented in the Canary Islands and globally in areas affected by these events.

Frontiers in quantifying wildlife behavioural responses to chemical pollution

Animal behaviour is remarkably sensitive to disruption by chemical pollution, with widespread implications for ecological and evolutionary processes in contaminated wildlife populations. However, conventional approaches applied to study the impacts of chemical pollutants on wildlife behaviour seldom address the complexity of natural environments in which contamination occurs. The aim of this review is to guide the rapidly developing field of behavioural ecotoxicology towards increased environmental realism, ecological complexity, and mechanistic understanding. We identify research areas in ecology that to date have been largely overlooked within behavioural ecotoxicology but which promise to yield valuable insights, including within- and among-individual variation, social networks and collective behaviour, and multi-stressor interactions. Further, we feature methodological and technological innovations that enable the collection of data on pollutant-induced behavioural changes at an unprecedented resolution and scale in the laboratory and the field. In an era of rapid environmental change, there is an urgent need to advance our understanding of the real-world impacts of chemical pollution on wildlife behaviour. This review therefore provides a roadmap of the major outstanding questions in behavioural ecotoxicology and highlights the need for increased cross-talk with other disciplines in order to find the answers.