African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are megaherbivores of the African savanna that require extensive ranges to provide key resources critical for their survival and reproduction, both at spatial and temporal scales. We studied seasonal differences in home range sizes and daily distance travelled to the nearest ephemeral surface water sources by five male and ten female African elephants in the eastern Okavango Panhandle in northern Botswana between 2014-2017. We hypothesized that (i) elephant home ranges would be larger in the wet season than in the dry season (because forage and water sources tend to be more plentiful and widely distributed in the wet season than in the dry season, and elephants would not be restricted to localized resource areas), and that (ii) distances traveled by elephants to the nearest ephemeral surface water sources would be larger in the dry season than in the wet as these ephemeral water sources successively dry up. Our findings supported the hypotheses of the study. Elephants had larger home ranges in the wet season than in the dry season and the daily distances traveled to the nearest ephemeral surface water sources were larger in the dry season than in the wet season. The findings indicate the need to consider seasonal variations in elephant space use in land use planning and protected area management to minimize restricting elephants access to critical resources as seasons change or droughts intensify due to climate change.

Accurate wind speed prediction reduces the risk of wind speed intermittence and instability to the power system. A hybrid model combined double decomposition technique with RBF (Radial Basis Function) Neural Network is designed to refine the accuracy of the prediction of wind speeds. Firstly, the decomposition technique of ICEEMDAN is introduced to break down the original wind speed, and the decomposition parameters are optimized by BWO (the beluga whale optimization). The decomposed subsequence of the highest frequency is further decomposed by EWT (empirical wavelet transform), reducing the complexity of the sequence. Then the RBF prediction model is adopted to predict each subsequence. The ultimate results are constructed through the aggregation of predictions made for each segmented subsequence. In order to validate the accuracy and stability of the proposed method of BWO-ICEEMDAN-EWT-RBF, the prediction results are compared with the other kinds of models, i.e. BP, LSTM, RBF, CEEMDAN-RBF, ICEEMDAN-RBF and EWT-RBF. The results show that: (a) with the aid of the double decomposition technology of BWO-ICEEMDAN-EWT, the proposed hybrid algorithm effectively reduce the sequence complexity and improve the prediction performance; (b) the model in question substantially boosts the level of precision and stability in the prediction of wind speeds.

Comparative genomic studies of closely related taxa are important for our understanding of the causes of divergence on a changing Earth. This being said, the genomic resources available for marine intertidal molluscs are limited and currently, there are few publicly available high-quality annotated genomes for intertidal habitats and for molluscs in general. Here we report transcriptome assemblies for six species of Patellogastropoda and genome assemblies and annotations for three of these species (Scurria scurra, Scurria viridula, and Scurria zebrina). Comparative analysis using these genomic resources suggest that there was a large gene family contraction during the early evolutionary history of Patellogastropoda (140-170 Mya) and recently diverging lineages (10-20 Mya) have experienced similar amounts of contractions and expansions but across different gene families. Furthermore, differences among recently diverged species are reflected in variation in the amount of coding and noncoding material in genomes, such as amount of repetitive elements and lengths of transcripts and introns and exons. Additionally, functional ontologies of species-specific and duplicated genes together with demographic inference support the finding that recent divergence among members of the genus Scurria aligns with their unique ecological characteristics. Overall, the resources presented here will be extremely valuable for future studies of adaptation in molluscs and in intertidal habitats as a whole.

Water potential is a crucial parameter for assessing tree water status and hydraulic strategies. However, methods for measuring water potential, such as the Scholander pressure chamber, are destructive and discontinuous, and difficult to perform in tall forests. Consequently, important dynamics in water potentials, particularly during short-term drought, are difficult to capture. Recent advancements have introduced low-maintenance sensors capable of measuring continuous, high-resolution stem water potentials. If applicable to forest trees, such sensors hold the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of tree water relations. We evaluated these sensors in a temperate, diffuse-porous tree species ( Carpinus betulus) over a growing season marked by dry-down periods and heat. Concurrent measurements of branch water potential, sap flow, and environmental factors (air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and soil water content) were conducted. Midday stem water potentials of C. betulus reached minimum values of -3.39 ± 0.10 MPa and exhibited pronounced seasonal fluctuations, mirroring changes in environmental conditions and sap flow. Comparison of stem water potentials with Scholander-type measurements revealed a very good correlation with predawn (R 2 = 0.98) and a general agreement with midday measurements (R 2 = 0.71). Diurnal variations in stem water potentials and sap flow exhibited a hysteresis, consistent with other plant parameters. In this first assessment, the agreement with Scholander-type measurements, sap flow, and environmental parameters suggests the tested water potential sensors yield reliable data. If applicable to other tree species, including conifers, these sensors could significantly advance our understanding of tree water relations and their role in forest drought responses.

Background: Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is an aggressive mesenchymal tumor that usually occurs in children. When it occurs in adults, it poses a diagnostic challenge for the medical team. The clinical manifestations are not specific, imaging studies show a hepatic mass with a mixed component (solid and cystic). To date, surgical resection with neoadjuvant therapy has yielded satisfactory results in terms of survival. Case: We present the case of a 19-year-old patient, which, to our knowledge is the only case reported in Central America, which was surgically resected and received adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient has been followed for 34 months, and she remains free of disease. Conclusion: The presented case highlights the need to raise awareness about UESL in the Central American region and promote a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach to improve disease-free survival in these patients.

Background Chondrosarcoma accounts for 20% of all bone sarcomas and may present with soft tissue extension. The presence of an extraosseous component, along with positive surgical margins, have been separately associated with increased risk of local recurrence and decreased survival. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the treatment and outcomes of 7 chondrosarcoma patients who presented with both chondrosarcoma with soft tissue extension as well as positive surgical margins post wide en bloc resection. Methods This was a retrospective review over a consecutive thirteen-year period. Data including treatment details and outcomes were included. All patients underwent attempted negative margin wide en bloc resection and encountered unplanned positive margins on intraoperative determination or post-operative pathology. Results A total of 7 cases were identified. Average age (SD) was 61.1 years (5.87) with median (range) follow-up of 17.0 months (3, 91). Four (57.1%) cases arose in the extremities, and 3 (42.9%) cases in the pelvis. All patients underwent attempted negative margin wide en bloc resection. Four (57.1%) cases recurred with median (IQR) time to recurrence 16.0 months (9.50, 22.0). At study conclusion, five (71.4%) were alive with median (IQR) survival of 23 months (12.5, 36). Overall survival (OS) probability was 100%, 53.3%, and 53.3% at 1, 3, and 5-years, respectively. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 60%, 40%, and 40% at 1-, 3-, and 5-years, respectively. Conclusion Despite a limited sample size, our data reflected similar OS to chondrosarcomas with positive margins alone, but a higher recurrence rate. Our cohort represents a high-risk subgroup of chondrosarcoma patients, which may dictate increased monitoring and guide future treatment recommendations for these patients.

Since early 2022 the Omicron variant has rapidly spread worldwide, becoming the dominant variant to date. The study aimed to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients and to reconstruct the genomic epidemiology of main SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages in Italy in 2022. 8,970 SARS-CoV-2 samples were studied, and phylogenetic analyses were focused on BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5 sub-variants. More than half of subjects received three doses of vaccine and experienced a reinfection. A significant larger proportion of unvaccinated subjects presented reinfection compared to vaccinated. Clusters presented a tMRCA between September-November 2021 (BA.1), November 2021-January 2022 (BA.2) and October 2021-May 2022 (BA.5). R e values showed the highest level between September-October, January-February 2022, and May 2022 for BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5, respectively. Limited number of studied variant sequences are included in clusters. The analyses dissect the epidemiological dynamics of Omicron sub-lineages in Italy over a period of great epidemiological changes in the COVID-19 epidemic. The spread rate of the studied variant exceeded its evolutionary rate. No single sub-lineage had sufficient time to differentiate into large clusters, but only into small and fragmented groups sharing the same recent ancestor. These analyses dissect the epidemiological dynamics of Omicron sub-lineages in Italy over a period of great epidemiological changes in the COVID-19 epidemic.

Both chronic and acute drought alter the composition and physiology of soil microbiomes, with implications for globally important processes including carbon cycling and plant productivity. When water is scarce, selection favors microbes with thicker peptidoglycan cell walls, sporulation ability, and constitutive osmolyte production (Schimel, Balser, and Wallenstein 2007)—but also the ability to degrade complex plant-derived polysaccharides, suggesting that the success of plants and microbes during drought are inextricably linked. However, communities vary enormously in their drought responses and subsequent interactions with plants. Hypothesized causes of this variation in drought resilience include soil texture, soil chemistry, and historical precipitation patterns that shaped the starting communities and their constituent species (Evans, Allison, and Hawkes 2022). Currently, the physiological and molecular mechanisms of microbial drought responses and microbe-dependent plant drought responses in diverse natural soils are largely unknown (de Vries et al. 2023). Here, we identify numerous microbial taxa, genes, and functions that characterize soil microbiomes with legacies of chronic water limitation. Soil microbiota from historically dry climates buffered plants from the negative effects of subsequent acute drought, but only for a wild grass species native to the same region, and not for domesticated maize. In particular, microbiota with a legacy of chronic water limitation altered the expression of a small subset of host genes in crown roots, which mediated the effect of acute drought on transpiration and intrinsic water use efficiency. Our results reveal how long-term exposure to water stress alters soil microbial communities at the metagenomic level, and demonstrate the resulting “legacy effects” on neighboring plants in unprecedented molecular and physiological detail.

In recent years, the world has witnessed in the emergence of several infectious diseases, with notable examples being coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), avian influenza, and Mpox, which continue to present serious and persistent threats to global public health. The rapid spread and devastating impact of these diseases underscore the urgent need for effective combat strategies. One promising area of research in the field of antiviral drug development is the exploration of multi-specific antibodies. These have attracted significant attention owing to their diverse benefits compared to monoclonal antibodies. Multi-specific antibodies exhibit a more versatile function, possess a stronger binding affinity for viral targets, demonstrate enhanced antiviral activity, and show reduced susceptibility to viral escape mechanisms. These characteristics make them promising candidates for the development of novel antiviral therapies against a range of emerging infectious diseases. This review examines the current research progress surrounding multi-specific antibodies in the context of combating SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and other newly emerging infectious viruses. It offers insights into the potential applications and future prospects of multi-specific antibodies, with the aim to contribute to the ongoing efforts to address the global health challenges posed by infectious diseases.

Oxbow lakes are iconic fluvial landforms found in the floodplains of meandering rivers around the world. Their formation is associated with meander cutoff, a process that excises sections of river channel to optimise the downstream transmission of water and sediment. After termination, sedimentary plugs form at either end of the abandoned channel to isolate it from the mainstem. Overbank floods and conveyance through tie channels maintains some hydrological connectivity, but lakes are generally considered to passively infill until they become terrrestrialised. Here, a suite of 64 lakes across two meandering rivers in the Bolivian Amazon are used to demonstrate the hydrological dynamism of oxbow lakes after cutoff by quantifying interannual variations in lake water surface area (WSA) and the mechanisms controlling them. The results suggest that WSA variations are controlled by proximity to the active channel, with the magnitude of these variations being set by mechanisms of connectivity. Lakes connected by tie channels experienced WSA changes up to 3.9 times larger than lakes with no visible connection mechanisms. Incursion lakes displayed similar WSA changes to those with tie channels, while isolated lakes were found furthest from the mainstem and had the smallest range of WSAs. Chute-lakes experienced a wider range of WSAs and were more strongly controlled by mainstem proximity than neck-lakes. An understanding of the processes governing oxbow lake hydrodynamics is important for forecasting nutrient and contaminant fluxes as well as the sensitivity of riparian wetlands to changes in catchment hydrology associated with climate change and flow modification.

Erosion generally reduces the resilience of replenished gravel in rivers. This is why structures are sometimes added to modify the upstream flow and stabilize artificial spawning grounds. In particular, rows of boulders can be placed around the replenishment area to limit the transport of replenished gravel during flood events. This study aims to optimize the arrangement of these rows, based on field experiments as well as physical and numerical models. A combined hydro-sedimentary numerical model is calibrated and validated by comparing simulated and measured morphological evolutions in nine laboratory experiments. The results show that boulders downstream of the replenishment slow down the flow above the replenishment, decreasing shear stress on the gravel. Stabilization efficiency is shown to depend on the positioning of the boulders and arrangement of the replenishment surface. In order to achieve sustainable spawning, prospective scenarios with the numerical model highlight the need to limit the width of the replenishment area.

The number and diversity of above-ground arthropods has decreased significantly over the last 15-20 years, while less is known about changes in soil biodiversity. Here, we analysed a comprehensive dataset of soil-living meso- and macrofauna in forests differing in land-use intensity in three regions in Germany, spanning 12 years from 2008 to 2020. Neither density, species richness nor gamma diversity of soil fauna declined, suggesting contrasting above- and belowground dynamics of biodiversity. The community stability of most taxa was not directly related to forest management, but strongly correlated with asynchrony of species-fluctuations. However, mainly synchronous fluctuations suggest that variations of abiotic conditions, such as soil moisture, overprinted biotic drivers of stability, particularly in soil mesofauna. While documenting a remarkable resilience of forest soil animals to the ongoing biodiversity decline, our findings contribute to understanding the temporal patterns of soil fauna density and diversity and the drivers of community stability.

Background:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing global health concern, affecting approximately25% of adults worldwide (WHO). The disease spectrum ranges from simple steatosis to non-alcoholicsteatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Complications such asportal hypertension and esophageal varices pose diagnostic challenges due to the limitations of traditionalinvasive methods like hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and endoscopy, which arecostly, not widely accessible, and carry inherent risks.Objectives:This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of non-invasive techniques for diagnosing portalhypertension and variceal bleeding in patients with NAFLD cirrhosis. It seeks to identify the most reliableand accurate non-invasive diagnostic methods and compare them with invasive techniques such as HVPG and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).Search Methods:A comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.Selection Criteria: Studies were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria, focusing on adult participants with confirmed NAFLD cirrhosis and the evaluation of non-invasive diagnostic techniques for portal hypertension and variceal bleeding.Data Collection and Analysis:Data extraction covered study characteristics, participant demographics, and diagnostic accuracy metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and DOR. Two independent reviewers performed the extraction, resolving discrepancies through discussion. The quality of included studies was assessed using theQUADAS-2 tool, focusing on bias risk and applicability.Main Results:The review identified 11 studies with a total of 2,707 patients. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography demonstrated high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (79%) for diagnosing clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) at a cutoff value of 20 kPa. For severe portal hypertension (SPH), LSM had a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 85% at a threshold of 25 kPa. The combination of LSM and platelet count showed high sensitivity (97-98%) for detecting esophageal varices (EV) and high-risk esophageal varices (HREV), but lower specificity (32-74%). Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM)exhibited good diagnostic performance, with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 75% for CSPH at acutoff of 40 kPa. Real-time tissue elastography (RTE) showed a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 51%for CSPH. The Liver Stiffness-Spleen Diameter to Platelet Ratio Score (LSPS) demonstrated a sensitivityof 89% and specificity of 75% for diagnosing HREV.Authors' Conclusions:Non-invasive tests, particularly LSM and SSM, have shown promising diagnostic accuracy for identifying portal hypertension and variceal bleeding complications in NAFLD patients. The high sensitivity of thesetests, especially when used in combination, supports their role in ruling out these conditions in clinicalsettings. The specificity of LSM at higher thresholds underscores its utility in confirming diagnoses of CSPH, SPH, and HREV. Further research is needed to address variability in test performance, standardize protocols, and explore the integration of novel biomarkers and imaging modalities to enhance diagnostic precision and clinical applicability. The value of NITs in reducing the need for invasive diagnostics and improving patient management is significant, making them a valuable addition to clinical practice.Keywords:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Portal hypertension, Variceal bleeding, Non-invasive tests, Liver stiffness measurement (LSM), Transient elastography, Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM), Diagnostic accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, Cirrhosis, Esophageal varices, High-risk esophageal varices, Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), Chronic liver disease.

Climate controls the amount of energy available for plants, which in turn determines the quantity of resources available for animals. It follows that when climate changes, so should trophic communities. Using a novel modeling approach, we investigated how bird and mammal trophic communities might disassemble and reassemble under 21st century climate changes. We show that trophic structures are expected to undergo profound changes globally, chiefly in the tropics and across high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. This trophic reorganization of communities is characterized by shifts in species richness within trophic guilds. While species in some guilds might face population collapses, species in other guilds are expected to find new opportunities to maintain stable populations in previously saturated areas. The proposed models offer a tool for projecting and understanding the trophic ramifications of climate change, highlighting their potential in guiding future research and conservation efforts.

Sialolithiasis is an uncommon condition of the salivary gland in the horse, primarily affecting the parotid salivary duct. Clinical signs may include salivary stasis within the gland and potential progression to sialadenitis, facial draining tract, or a permanent fistula. A 19-year-old Warmblood gelding was referred with severe septic sialadenitis of the right parotid gland. A 4 cm sialolith was detected radiographically and removed surgically. Although surgery was uneventful and patency of the salivary duct was assessed intra-operatively, mild accumulation of saliva within the gland was noted one day later. A stenosis caudal to where the sialolith was lodged was diagnosed through contrast radiography. Balloon dilatation of the stenosis was attempted unsatisfactorily and a polyethylene catheter was placed and sutured to the oral mucosa to maintain the parotid empty. A week later, the oral portion of the catheter was chewed by the horse, preventing catheter removal without surgery. Subsequently, ultrasonographic and radiographic re-evaluations were performed routinely to assess the patency of the catheter or complications associated with long-term placement. After 1 year, no salivary stasis in the gland or complications were observed. This is the first description of successful long-term indwelling catheter placement to resolve stenosis of the salivary duct. This procedure offers a simple, economical, and safe option compared to more complicated or invasive techniques previously described in horses, with excellent functional and cosmetic results.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted considerable attention due to their potential for high-efficiency conversion and cost-effective fabrication. Although the fabrication of perovskite films in ambient air offers environmental and cost advantages, the presence of water vapor and oxygen may induce instability in these films, thereby affecting device performance. This review aims to comprehensively explore recent advancements in the fabrication of PSCs in ambient air, while investigating various factors contributing to perovskite degradation. Addressing these challenges, diverse fabrication strategies are outlined, encompassing compositional, additive, solvent, and interface engineering to enhance the performance and stability of PSCs fabricated under ambient air. To facilitate the commercialization of PSCs, this paper summarizes several widely employed methods for the large-scale manufacturing of PSCs. Through this review, we aim to offer some invaluable insights and guidance for the commercialization trajectory of PSCs, as well as the pros and cons to their widespread applications in the field of renewable energy.

Optical imagery from space-based telescopes is one of the most valuable tools for understanding various large and small-scale processes on Earth. Generally, the better an instrument's ability to collect light is, the higher quality its data products are in terms of resolution and signal to noise ratio (SNR). Improvements in optical Earth imagery resolutions have plateaued since the traditional strategy for improvement has been to increase the diameter of the light collecting area of the optical telescope assembly (OTA). Larger instruments become prohibitively expensive to launch into orbit due to increased volume and mass resulting in only incremental advances. Nevertheless, as discussed in NASA's most recent Surface Topography and Vegetation decadal survey, scientists continue to seek measurements with higher spatial and temporal resolutions. A rotating synthetic aperture (RSA) telescope is a space-based observatory concept that has the potential to address measurement demands while simultaneously minimizing OTA cost. RSAs employ a high aspect ratio rectangular aperture that is spun about its principal optical axis. A complete image is formed after a 180°rotation during which multiple frames are acquired to fully sample the imaging system's optical transfer function. This first contribution of this work is to establish the utility of RSA telescopes within the context of Earth science data acquisition by presenting imaging performance comparisons with the current state of the art. The results presented showcase RSA super resolution in spatially oversampled target regions enabling image resolutions an order of magnitude greater than traditional filled-aperture systems depending on the amount of oversampling. This work's second contribution is to address a significant operational challenge in controlling the pointing dynamics of a simultaneously spinning and slewing spacecraft to the degree of accuracy required for acceptable image acquisition. This work defines the requirements for an RSA attitude determination and control system (ADCS) by modeling a variety of Earth orbiting RSA satellites using Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI) Systems Tool Kit (STK). Imaging parameters including ground sampling distance (GSD), parallax, and SNR recorded during the simulations are used to determine RSA dynamics parameters including spin and slew rates. Spin and slew rates range from 5°/s-50°/s and 0.5°/s-5°/s respectively for a range of Earth orbital regimes. Finally, the presented results are summarized to quantify the tradeoff between increasing data product quality and easing angular momentum exchange requirements.

Background Many adolescents with asthma have dysfunctional breathing and poor quality of life. Breathing retraining is recommended for symptom management and breathing efficiency. This trial evaluated the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a digital breathing retraining intervention for adolescents with asthma (Breathe4T – a mobile-friendly website). Specifically, recruitment, follow-up response rates, acceptability and uptake of the intervention and measures, as well as agreement between two quality of life questionnaires were measured. Methods Adolescents (12-17 years) with asthma and impaired quality of life were recruited via UK primary and secondary care clinics and randomised into two, unblinded groups. The intervention group accessed Breathe4T for 6 months whilst the control group gained access after 6 months. Measures included quality of life (paediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire and paediatric quality of life short form), asthma control (asthma control test), healthcare utilisation and demographics at baseline, 2 and 6 months. Website data and interviews explored experiences of the intervention. Results 64 adolescents were randomised. At 2 months 30.2% of participants returned data, however telephone calls improved the rate to 70.3% at 6-month follow-up Breathing retraining was acceptable to adolescents and was perceived to have various benefits. Conclusions The study demonstrates acceptability and feasibility of a future definitive trial to evaluate effectiveness and impacts of a breathing retraining website on quality of life. Implications for recruitment and maximising follow up rates were identified. These learnings are likely to be applicable to other adolescent studies.

Remote sensing images are an important basis for humans to obtain information on the surface. However, due to the limitations of sensor industrial technology and the influence of the sensor's working environment, remote sensing images generally contain fringe noise, which seriously damages image information, and cannot be used directly. Different from many current advanced convolutional network image stripe noise removal methods which focus on optimizing the network structure, the method proposed in this paper mainly splits the input-output data of the convolutional network. Through the reorganization process, the lightweight convolutional network with fewer layers and fewer channels has a good image stripe denoising effect. However, such models using convolutional networks are only suitable for stripes with a certain width, and stripes with inappropriate widths will seriously affect the processing effect of this type of model. If strips in large-size images such as remote sensing images are removed, and a stripe is hundreds of pixels wide, the stripe removal effect of this type of model will be very weak. Therefore, this paper proposes a technique of splitting-reorganizing the image of the input-output convolutional network, so that the above-mentioned models can have an excellent removal effect on stripes of any width.

In consideration of current global climate change, ecophysiological research on wild birds has increased its emphasis on approaches related to thermal tolerance. Many studies have investigated how desert specialists are adapted physiologically to the hot and xeric conditions they live in. Our aim was to test whether migratory passerines from temperate areas also have physiological adaptations to cope with heat stress and whether such adaptations may be related to habitat or migration distance. Using video recording and flow-through respirometry, we measured temperatures of panting onset (TPANT) of 113 individuals of 14 different species, exposed to increasing ambient temperature. Our study species differed in size, migration type (short-distance migrants vs. trans-Saharan migrants) and habitat preferences (woodland, farmland, reeds). We found that trans-Saharan migrants started panting at higher ambient temperatures (TA) than short-distance migrants of similar size, but no difference between species from different habitats. This finding suggests that migrants facing a desert crossing may have adaptations to decrease the risk of dehydration while maintaining body temperature below the critical range. According to this, we suggest that there may be selection on traits related to the modulation of respiratory water loss in birds that cross the Sahara Desert during migration. Flexibility in these traits will be of crucial importance in a warmer future.

Urban green space plays an important role in supporting bird communities, but the specific effects of urban green space elements on the spatial distribution of urban birds are not very clear. This study focused on small-scale urban green space and selected 29 sample plots from 4 urban green spaces in downtown Huangshan in 2023. The bird species and number in the sample plots were counted, we also collected the patch area, patch density and diversity index and vegetation characteristics (vertical forest structure, coverage, evergreen deciduous tree species, flowering, and fruit-bearing plants) as landscape pattern that affecting bird diversity. The results showed that 1) non-pure forest area exhibited a rich composition of avian communities, including greater species diversity and bird numbers than that in the pure forest area. 2) The characteristics of non-pure forest areas are noticeable. For landscape characteristics, the patch density and the patch diversity index of the non-pure forest samples were higher;. in term of species characteristics, there were no significant differences in tree and deciduous species between pure and non-pure forest, but significant differences in forest facies, coverage, shrub, and evergreen, flower- and fruit-bearing plants; the observed coverage value of non-pure forest samples was lower than that of pure forest samples, but higher than that of pure forest samples regarding forest facies, shrubs, evergreen and fruit-bearing plants. 3) Patch density, patch diversity index, vegetation cover degree and shrub plants had significant effects on the bird community, but deciduous plants, vertical structure of forest phase and fruit-bearing plants had more significant effects on bird community in the non-pure forest area. These findings will help refine the spatial layout patterns of urban green spaces and optimize plant allocation for enhanced environmental impact.

Title： Successful treatment of refractory pediatric generalized pustular psoriasis with secukinumabAuthors: Keyi Yu1, Huaye Bao2, Xingang Wu2Department of Dermatology, Hangzhou Third Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 38 Xihu Rd, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang, China.Department of Dermatology, Hangzhou Third People’s Hospital, 38 Xihu Rd, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang, China

G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), a member of the growth hormone-releasing peptide family, is widely expressed in different tissues. GPR39 has high constitutive activity and can be activated by zinc ions. GPR39 participates in cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, and ion transport by recruiting Gq/11, Gs, G12/13, and β-arrestin proteins. GPR39 can perform anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pathophysiological functions. In recent research, the discovery of endogenous ligands has shed light on the physiological function of GPR39. Increasing evidence has confirmed that the aberrant expression and reactivation of GPR39 can cause various diseases, especially central nervous system disorders, endocrine system disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and liver-related diseases. This finding suggested that GPR39 could be a promising therapeutic target for multiple diseases and the potency of synthetic GPR39 ligands has been validated in many in vivo models. However, the efficiency of synthetic ligands in clinical applications is still unknown, and the development of novel agonists, especially biased agonists, and antagonists needs further exploration. This review focuses on the special residues of the high constitutive activity of GPR39, its endogenous and synthetic agonists, and its pathophysiological role, aiming to explore its pharmacological potential and further clinical application in treating diseases.

Social insects have developed a broad diversity of nesting and foraging strategies. One of these, inquilinism, occurs when one species (the inquiline) inhabits the nest built and occupied by another species (the host). Obligatory inquilines must overcome strong constraints upon colony foundation and development, due to limited availability of host colonies. To reveal how inquilinism shapes reproductive strategies in a termite host-inquiline dyad, we carried out a microsatellite marker study on Inquilinitermes inquilinus and its host Constrictotermes cavifrons. The proportion of simple, extended and mixed families was recorded in both species, as well as the presence of neotenics, parthenogenesis and multiple foundations. Most host colonies (95%) were simple families and all were monodomous. By contrast, the inquiline showed a higher proportion of extended (30%) and mixed (5%) families, and frequent neotenics (in 25% of the nests). This result from the simultaneous foundation in host nests of numerous incipient colonies which, as they grow, may compete, fight, or merge. We also documented the use of parthenogenesis by female-female pairs. In conclusion, the classical monogamous colony pattern of the host species suggests uneventful development of simple foundations dispersed in the environment, in accordance with the wide distribution of their resources. By contrast, the multiple reproductive patterns displayed by the inquiline species reveal strong constraints on foundation sites: founders first concentrate into host nests, then must attempt to outcompete or absorb the neighboring foundations to gain full control of the resources provided by the host nest.