Letter to the editor

A novel methodology for suitable site selection for groundwater development based on river capture, pumping cost and groundwater potential has been proposed for better groundwater utilization. River capture and cost map have been generated from a calibrated groundwater model, simulated with forecasted hydrological time series data. The groundwater potential has been calculated with weighted overlay analysis. These three variables have been used to classify the model domain into five zones of groundwater development by K-Means clustering. The area with lower river capture, low cost of pumping and high groundwater potential is found to be the best location for groundwater extraction. The methodology has been applied to the lower Ain river basin, France.

As human activities on our planet persist, causing widespread and irreversible environmental degradation, the need to biomonitor ecosystems has never been more pressing. These circumstances have required a renewal in monitoring techniques, encouraged by necessity to develop more rapid and accurate tools which will support timely observations of ecosystem structure and function. The World Exposition (from now ‘EXPO2015’) hosted in Milan from May to October 2015 was a global event that could be categorized as a mega-event, which can be defined as an acute environmental stressor, possibly generating biodiversity alteration and disturbance. During the six months of EXPO2015, exhibitors from more than 135 countries and 22 million visitors insisted on a 1.1 million square meters area. Faced with such a massive event, we explore the potential of DNA metabarcoding using three molecular markers to improve the understanding of anthropogenic impacts in the area, both considering air and water monitoring. Furthermore, we explore the effectiveness of the taxonomy assignment phase considering different taxonomic levels of analysis and the use of data mining approaches to predict sample origin. Unless the degree of taxa identification still remains open, our results showed that DNA metabarcoding is a powerful genomic-based tool to monitor biodiversity at the microscale, allowing us to capture exact fingerprints of specific event sites and to explore in a comprehensive manner the eukaryotic community alteration. With this work, we aim to disentangle and overcome the crucial issues related to the generalization of DNA metabarcoding in order to support future applications.

The spatial pattern of soil water content (SWC) determines the success of vegetation restoration in semi- and arid regions. The Qilian Mountains in China are in a semi-arid area where decades of environmental degradation prompted large-scale restoration efforts with a native constructive species Picea crassifolia. However, the relationships between SWC and landcover are not clear in this area, hindering woodland restoration. In this study, we determined spatial distribution and characteristics of SWC in the Qilian Mountains in four main types of landcover. Our results revealed that 1. SWC decreased in the order of natural forest, brushland, grassland, planted forest, and mixed forest, but it was significantly different only in natural forest (p<0.05); 2. planted forest exhibited a lower SWC at young ages (less than 50 a) than natural forest, brushland or grassland, and the ecohydrological effect of afforestation exhibited hysteresis at long time scales; 3. a variogram analysis and Kriging interception of the spatial pattern of SWC showed that shrubland and grassland exhibited superior adaptability to local SWC compared with afforestation. The differences in SWC among various landcover types indicated that strengthening the maintenance and protection of natural forests is more important for restoration efforts than afforestation; furthermore, in semi-arid regions, shrubs and grasses are more suitable for use in ecological restoration than forest plantations.

A time series analysis is proposed for an adaptive design framework in nonstationary conditions. In this study, a dynamic Bayesian autoregressive moving average model (t-ARMA) is developed for modelling a standardized runoff index (SRI) time series. The t-ARMA model takes into account the possible change points in the SRI series, and the structure of the model changes with time. Bayesian theory is carried out to estimate the t-ARMA model parameters and locations of change points using a strategy of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. The results demonstrate that using the Bayesian method to estimate the parameters of the ARMA and t-ARMA models could capture the SRI series characteristics, and the performances of the t-ARMA model are compared with those of the traditional autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model, showing that the t-ARMA model capable of taking the change point of the time series into account is more robust than the traditional ARMA model.

We report the case of a 51-year-old Caucasian woman who developed a pulmonary embolism in the absence of any pre-existing risk factors for VTE, three weeks following clozapine initiation for treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia. She was initially misdiagnosed and treated for suspected COVID-19 infection.

We report a case based on simultaneous occurrence of Waldenström macroglobulinemia, myeloma and amyloidosis as a collision neoplasm. The strangeness and severity of the case presented a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, which required individualised treatment and close follow-up to achieved stringent complete response.

A one-phase Stefan problem for a semi-infinite material is studied for special functional forms of the thermal conductivity and specific heat depending on the temperature of the phase-change material. Using the similarity transformation technique, an explicit solution for these situations are shown. The mathematical analysis is made for two different kinds of heat source terms, and the existence and uniqueness of the solutions are proved.

The emergence of the Omicron variant (and its derivatives) was a tipping point from the 2020/2021 Covid-19 pandemic to a surprisingly early endemic situation. Contrary to what is sometimes discussed, a replacement of Sars-CoV-2 Omicron by another variant that produces more clinically problematic courses is only a theoretical possibility; in practice, it will not happen. Therefore, now is the time to tailor new vaccines not only against the Sars-CoV-2 virus, but also to protect entire populations against OC43, HKU1, 229E, and NL63, which have been known for a long time. These coronaviruses are, as of February 2022, a greater public health threat than the Sars-CoV-2 virus in its Omicron variant.

Many species-rich ecological communities result from adaptive radiation events. The effects of these explosive speciation events on community assembly remain poorly understood. Here, we explore the well-documented radiations of African cichlid fishes and interactions with their flatworm gill parasites (Cichlidogyrus spp.) including 10529 reported infections and 477 different host-parasite combinations collected through a survey of peer-reviewed literature. We assess the evolutionary, ecological, and morphological parameters on meta-communities partially affected by adaptive radiation evens using network metrics, host repertoire measures, and network link prediction (NLP). The hosts’ evolutionary history mostly determined host repertoires. Ecological and evolutionary parameters predicted host-parasite associations, but many interactions remain undetected according to NLP. Parasite meta-communities under host adaptive radiation are more specialised and stable while ecological opportunity and ecological fitting have shaped interactions elsewhere. The cichlid-Cichlidogyrus network is a suitable eco-evolutionary study system but future studies should validate our findings in other radiating host-parasite systems.

Objective: To examine baseline risk factors measured in the first-trimester screening for preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women with COVID-19 versus the general population. To compare risk factors among patients with mild and severe COVID-19. Design: Observational retrospective study. Setting: Six maternities in Catalonia. Population: Study patients were 231 pregnant women undergoing first-trimester screening for PE and positive for SARS-CoV-2. Reference cohort were 13,033 pregnant women with first-trimester screening for PE from 6 maternities. Methods: Recording of maternal history, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), mean uterine artery pulsatility index (UtAPI), placental growth factor (PlGF) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A at first trimester. Confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on the need for hospitalization, patients were classified into mild and severe COVID-19. Main outcome measures: Comparison of proportion of cases at a high risk for PE and of risk factors for PE among groups. Results: High risk for PE was significantly higher amongst COVID-19 patients compared to the general population, showing higher rates of obesity, chronic hypertension, higher UtAPI, and lower rates of smokers. PlGF did not differ significantly. In women with severe COVID-19, compared with mild COVID-19, BMI and MAP were significantly higher, whereas PlGF and UtAPI did not differ significantly. Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 there was a higher proportion of women at a high risk for PE than in the general population, mainly due to maternal risk factors, rather than placental signs of a deficient trophoblastic invasion. Likewise, according to COVID-19 severity, differences were due to maternal risk factors only.

Von Recklinghausen's disease is characterized by skin pigmentation, multiple neurofibromatosis, and osseous changes. In the management of anesthesia, a variety of pathologies need to be taken into account. This case describes the perioperative management of a patient with Recklinghausen's disease suspected difficulty in airway management.

Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis(TMJA) may manifest in patients with several predisposing systemic conditions. A case of extraarticular TMJA is presented in a patient diagnosed with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressive(FOP) is presented. The features, diagnosis and management of TMJA superimposed on this condition is presented through a qualitative systematic review of literature.

There is need to optimize dental procedures for better productivity and patient acceptance, without, however, reducing the quality of the results obtained. The objective of this work is to present a clinical case that illustrates endodontic retreatment followed by installation of a fiber glass post and coronary preparation.

The World Health Organization classifies odontomas as odontogenic tumors.There are two variants of odontomas: complex and compound. Complex odontomas are made of an anarchic assembly of mineralized tissue and dental pulp; while compound odontomas are consisting of a set of rudimentary teeth. They rarely show the features of both ty

The objective of this case report was to describe the treatment sequence of an immediate dental autotransplantation, with the use of technology such as the elaboration of a 3D replica made on a computer in conjunction with cone beam computerized tomography and the use of an piezoelectric

To study the mechanism and process characteristics of self-healing of salt rock damage, the shear test was used to conduct initial damage to the samples. Then, the experiment of self-healing recovery damaged salt rock is designed. Computed Tomography (CT) tests, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tests and theoretical analyses have been performed to study the characteristics of recovery of the damage salt rock during self-healing. The experimental results showed that the crack of the damaged salt rock have a good healing effect after short-term (such as 7 days) immersion in saturated brine. But in this healing process, brine has two mechanisms of action. When the soaking time is less than the threshold, the mechanism of brine action is softening, which leads to the decrease of recovery rate of the salt rock. However, while the soaking time exceeds the threshold, the mechanism of brine action is healing and recovery.

Introduction: A number of measures were began due to coronavirus 2019 disease (Covid-19) pandemic in many countries worldwide. A lockdown was applied for aged <18 years, education was continued online, and wearing a mask became mandatory in public places, which created an unprecedented period for children. Real-life data is limited showing how children with asthma are affected due to major changes. This study reveal how asthmatic children are affected by pandemic conditions based on real-life data. Methods: Patients with asthma aged 6–18 years who were followed up in March, April, and May 2019—before the Covid-19 pandemic—were included in the study. Data from March-April-May 2020 and 2019 were compared to reveal the effects of the pandemic-related lifestyle changes on symptoms, frequency of exacerbations, and drug use in asthmatic children. Results: A total of 86 children with asthma aged 6–18 years were included in this study. Time spent inside the home was significantly higher in 2020 than in 2019. Need for rescue medications and emergency department visits were significantly lower in 2020 compared to 2019 (p<0.001). The number of well controlled patients with asthma was higher in 2020 than in 2019 (p < 0.0001). Number of patients using prophylactic drugs within the last 3 months was lower in 2020 compared to 2019 (p = 0.007). Conclusion: The present study provides valuable insights into the condition of children over the age of 6 years during the Covid-19 pandemic based on real-life data. During the pandemic period, the number of asthmatic exacerbations, rescue drug use and asthma control were positively affected in school aged children with asthma.

Conservation of wide-ranging species is a challenge owing to their movement in an increasingly fragmented world. Long-distance dispersal has significant implications for ecosystem functioning, and such movement becomes challenging while navigating through a heterogeneous and human-dominated landscape. Here, we describe one of the longest dispersal journey by a sub-adult male tiger through GPS telemetry in Central India. We analyzed movement metrics, directionality, and space use during three behavioural stages of dispersal. We also used the clustering method to identify resting and kill sites (n = 89). T1-C1 dispersed a straight-line distance of 315 km over 225 days, moving an average 8.4 km/day and covering a cumulative displacement of ̵̴ 3000 km. Movement during post-dispersal was higher (mean = 465.6 m/h) than those during dispersal (mean = 376.6 m/h) and pre-dispersal (mean = 132.2 m/h), respectively. Moreover, movement during the night was significantly faster than during the day in all three phases. Likewise, during dispersal, the movement was faster (mean = 518.2 m/h) and more directional (knight = 0.19) at night than day. The average size of clusters was 1.68 ha and primarily away from human habitation (mean = 1875.6 m). The mean cluster duration (46.31 hr) was higher in the non-forested area but was smaller in size than inside the forest (p< 0.05). The individual crossed roads faster (mean= 1880.9 m/hr) than it travelled during other times. During the post-dispersal phase, T1-C1 established its home range with an area of 319.48 sq. km. (95% dBBMM). The dispersal event highlights the long-distance and multiscale movement behaviour in a heterogeneous landscape. Moreover, small forest patches play a key role in maintaining large carnivore connectivity while dispersing through a human-dominated landscape. Our study underlines how documenting the long-distance movement and integrating it with modern technology can improve conservation management decisions.

Remission of eczema and recovery of T h1 polarization following treatment with Dupilumab in STAT3 hyper IgE syndromeMatucci-Cerinic Caterina1,2, Viglizzo Gianmaria3, Pastorino Carlotta3, Corcione Anna2, Prigione Ignazia2, Bocca Paola2, Bustaffa Marta1,2, Cecconi Massimiliano4, Gattorno Marco2,5, Volpi Stefano1,21Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy2Unità Operativa Semplice Dipartimentale Centro Malattie Autoinfiammatorie e Immunodeficienze, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.3UOC Dermatologia, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy4UOC laboratorio di Genetica umana, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy5UOC Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy

Objective To investigate the safe range of vital signs of pregnant women pulmonary hypertension (PH). Study design Retrospective study. Setting The largest First-class Hospital at grade 3 in Northwestern China Population pregnant women with PH in Intensive care unit (ICU). Methods This of consecutive obstetric patients with PH admitted to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University of China, from January 2011 to May 2020, consisted of 92 cases analyzed using time-dependent Cox regression to consider the dynamic features of vital signs. Main outcome measures Maternal mortality Results 7/92 maternal deaths occurred. Three vital signs were identified as risk factors in the maternal in-hospital mortality model via backward selection: SpO2（HR，0.93；95%CI，0.88-0.97；P=0.003）, heart rate（HR，0.94；95%CI，0.90-0.99；P=0.027）, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) （HR，1.09；95%CI，1.00-1.18；P=0.045）. The optimal range of SpO2 <73%, MAP was 65–95 mmHg, and heart rate was 59–125 beats per minute (bpm). Further exploration showed that the cumulative and the longest consecutive time of abnormal vital signs also affect the outcome. For example, SpO2<73% accumulated for 5 h or continuously up to 2 h increases mortality. Conclusions: Maintaining SpO2>73%, MAP at 65–95mmHg, and heart rate at 59–125 bpm can significantly reduce in-hospital maternal mortality. The effects of the abnormal SpO2, heart rate, and MAP on in-hospital maternal mortality should be combined with the cumulative time and the longest duration. Funding Dr. Binxiao Su is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant 81870961

A document by Ekaterina Spiridonova. Click on the document to view its contents.

1. Global climate change affects many aspects of biology and has been shown to cause body size changes in animals. However, suitable datasets allowing the analysis of long-term relationships between body size and climate are rare. 2. The size of the skull, often used as a proxy for body size, does not change much in fully grown vertebrates, but some soricine shrews shrink their skull and brain in winter and regrow it in spring. This is thought to be a winter adaptation in these high-metabolic, nonhibernating animals, as a smaller brain size reduces energy requirements. 3. Climate could thus affect not only the overall size but also the pattern of the size change, i.e., Dehnel’s Phenomenon, in these shrews. 4. We assessed the impact of the changes in climate on the overall skull size and the different stages of Dehnel’s phenomenon in skulls of the common shrew, Sorex araneus, collected over 50 years in the Białowieża Forest, NE Poland. 5. Overall skull size decreased, along with increasingly mild winters and decreasing soil moisture, which determined the availability of the shrews’ main food source, earthworms. The magnitude of Dehnel’s phenomenon increased over time, indicating an increasing selection pressure on animals in winter. Overall, climate clearly affected the common shrew’s overall size as well as its seasonal size changes. With the current acceleration in climate change, the effects on the distribution range of this cold-adapted species may be quite severe.

The term "haplotype block" is commonly used in the developing field of haplotype-based inference methods. We argue that the term should be defined based on the structure of the Ancestral Recombination Graph (ARG), which contains complete information on the ancestry of a sample. We use simulated examples to demonstrate key features of the relation between haplotype blocks and ancestral structure, emphasising the stochasticity of the processes that generate them. Even the simplest cases of neutrality or of a "hard" selective sweep produce a rich structure, which is missed by commonly used statistics. We highlight a number of novel methods  for inferring haplotype structure as full ARG, or as a sequence of trees. While some of these new methods are computationally efficient, they still lack features to aid exploration of the haplotype blocks, as we define them, thus calling for the development of new methods. Understanding and applying the concept of the haplotype block will be essential to fully exploit long and linked-read sequencing technologies.