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AbstractWe present the mitochondrial genome of the deep-sea, epibenthic, irregular echinoid Echinocrepis rostrata, representing the first sequenced mitogenome of the order Holasteroida. The length of the complete E. rostrata mitochondrial genome is 15,716 base pairs, and its GC content is 34.87%. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes, whose order is identical to that of all other available echinoid mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis of available mitochondrial genomes, based on all coding loci, places E. rostrata as the sister group to spatangoids (heart urchins).

Abstract Background Central Michigan University (CMU) participated in a state-wide SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring program since 2021. Wastewater samples were collected from on-campus sites and nine off-campus wastewater treatment plants servicing small metropolitan and rural communities. SARS-CoV-2 genome copies were quantified using droplet digital PCR and results were reported to the health department. Results One rural, off-campus site consistently produced higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 genome copies. Samples from this site were sequenced and contained predominately a derivative of Alpha variant lineage B.1.1.7, detected from fall 2021 through summer 2023. Mutational analysis of reconstructed genes revealed divergence from the Alpha variant lineage sequence over time, including numerous mutations in the Spike RBD and NTD. Conclusions We discuss the possibility that a chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection accumulated adaptive mutations that promoted long-term infection. This study reveals that small wastewater treatment plants can enhance resolution of rare events and facilitate reconstruction of viral genomes due to the relative lack of contaminating sequences.

Summary: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are dysregulated in many pervasive diseases. Recently, we discovered that ERK1/2 is oxidized by signal-generated hydrogen peroxide in various cell types. Since the putative sites of oxidation lie within or near ERK1/2’s ligand-binding surfaces, we investigated how oxidation of ERK2 regulates interactions with the model substrates Sub-D and Sub-F. These studies revealed that ERK2 undergoes sulfenylation at C159 on its D-recruitment site surface and that this modification modulates ERK2 activity differentially between substrates. Integrated biochemical, computational, and mutational analyses suggest a plausible mechanism for peroxide-dependent changes in ERK2-substrate interactions. Interestingly, oxidation decreased ERK2’s affinity for some D-site ligands while increasing its affinity for others. Finally, oxidation by signal-generated peroxide enhanced ERK1/2’s ability to phosphorylate ribosomal S6 kinase A1 (RSK1) in HeLa cells. Together, these studies lay the foundation for examining crosstalk between redox- and phosphorylation-dependent signaling at the level of kinase-substrate selection.

Abstract Background Preclinical models like cancer cell lines and patient‐derived xenografts (PDXs) are vital for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating treatment options. It is essential that they accurately recapitulate the disease state of interest to generate results that will translate in the clinic. Prior studies have demonstrated that preclinical models do not recapitulate all biological aspects of human tissues, particularly with respect to the tissue of origin gene expression signatures. Therefore, it is critical to assess how well preclinical model gene expression profiles correlate with human cancer tissues to inform preclinical model selection and data analysis decisions. Aims Here we evaluated how well preclinical models recapitulate human cancer and non‐diseased tissue gene expression patterns in silico with respect to the full gene expression profile as well as subsetting by the most variable genes, genes significantly correlated with tumor purity, and tissue‐specific genes. Methods By using publicly available gene expression profiles across multiple sources, we evaluated cancer cell line and patient‐derived xenograft recapitulation of tumor and non‐diseased tissue gene expression profiles in silico. Results We found that using the full gene set improves correlations between preclinical model and tissue global gene expression profiles, confirmed that glioblastoma (GBM) PDX global gene expression correlation to GBM tumor global gene expression outperforms GBM cell line to GBM tumor global gene expression correlations, and demonstrated that preclinical models in our study often failed to reproduce tissue‐specific expression. While including additional genes for global gene expression comparison between cell lines and tissues decreases the overall correlation, it improves the relative rank between a cell line and its tissue of origin compared to other tissues. Our findings underscore the importance of using the full gene expression set measured when comparing preclinical models and tissues and confirm that tissue‐specific patterns are better preserved in GBM PDX models than in GBM cell lines. Conclusion Future studies can build on these findings to determine the specific pathways and gene sets recapitulated by particular preclinical models to facilitate model selection for a given study design or goal.

Pilargidae is a family of free-living and burrowing marine annelids. A lack of available molecular data for most of these species has precluded a molecular assessment of their phylogenetic relationships and has left uncertain the placement of Antonbruunia, which is hypothesized to be either a member of Pilargidae or its sister clade, the monotypic family Antonbruunidae. In this study, we describe the new species Antonbruunia milenae sp. nov., found at 845 m of depth off the coast of San Diego, California, USA, and we address the phylogeny of these organisms using 15 novel mitogenomes and multiple Sanger-sequenced loci. Our results show that Antonbruunia falls within Pilargidae, making Antonbruunidae a junior synonym of Pilargidae. Glyphohesione was transferred from Pilarginae to Synelminae, the previously unassigned genera Otopsis and Antonbruunia were shown to belong within Synelminae, and Hermundura was assigned to Phyllodocida incertae sedis. Sigambra was found to be non-monophyletic. Four different mitogenome gene orders were found among Pilargidae. Changes between the gene orders and the ancestral state gene order of the family were inferred. Two species have introns within the COI gene. These efforts represent a significant expansion of the available molecular resources for pilargids, as well as the basis for a more stable taxonomy.

Xyloplax is a genus of three species of sea stars previously found only on sunken wood in the deep ocean. Their circular and petaloid bodies, which lend them their common name “sea daisy”, and their presumed exclusive diet of wood make them an unusual and rare element of deep-sea ecosystems. We describe here the fourth species of Xyloplax from the eastern Pacific Ocean, Xyloplax princealberti n. sp., which ranges from offshore Canada to the Gulf of California (Mexico) and Costa Rica. Though sampled geographically close to another described species of Xyloplax from the northeastern Pacific, X. janetae, this new species is unique morphologically and according to available DNA data. The short abactinal spines are the most obvious feature that distinguishes X. princealberti n. sp. from other Xyloplax. The minimum distance for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I from Xyloplax princealberti n. sp. to the only other available Xyloplax, X. janetae, was 13.5%. We also describe Ridgeia vestimentiferan tubeworm bushes from active hydrothermal vents as a new Xyloplax habitat, the first record of a non-wood substrate, and a new reproductive strategy, simultaneous hermaphroditism, for this genus. We generated the first mitochondrial genome for a member of Xyloplax and analyzed it with other available asteroid data using nucleotide-coding or amino acid (for protein-coding genes) plus nucleotide coding (for rRNA genes). The nucleotide-coding results place Xylopax as part of the clade Velatida, consistent with a previous phylogenomic analysis that included Xyloplax princealberti n. sp. (as Xyloplax sp.), though the placement of Velatida within Asteroidea differed. The amino acid plus nucleotide coding recovered Velatida to be a grade with X. princealberti n. sp. as sister group to all other Asteroidea.

Dorvilleids belonging to Ophryotrocha Claparède & Mecznikow, 1869 are known from deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Southern Oceans. However, how they colonized and diversified in these ecosystems has not been assessed in detail. Here, a collection of Pacific hydrothermal vent Ophryotrocha was examined using morphology and DNA markers (COI, 16S and H3). Five new species were revealed, largely expanding the diversity of the group at this habitat type. They are Ophryotrocha charlottae sp. nov., O. kailae sp. nov., O. marinae sp. nov., O. pruittae sp. nov. from eastern Pacific, and O. bohnorum sp. nov. from the western Pacific. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated alignments of all three genes suggest vent habitants have been colonized several times independently within Ophryotrocha. One clade of six vent species was recovered, indicative of diversification following a colonization of hydrothermal vents, likely in the eastern Pacific. An Indian Ocean species, O. jiaolongi, was nested inside this clade and was closely related to one of the new species from the Gulf of California, diverging from it by less than 4% on COI.

Highlights Genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, immunological, metabolic, and environmental factors affect sex-biased drug responses. Drug repurposing approaches provide a significant advantage over novel drug development by reducing lengthy and costly clinical trials. Advances in compute processing power and optimized algorithms for computational systems have increased the efficiency and feasibility of computational drug repurposing. Multiple challenges still need to be addressed for sex-aware drug repurposing, including the insufficient understanding of the cause of variation of drug responses due to sex differences, better performing sex-aware repurposing methods, and the lack of large and balanced datasets to develop improved methods. Future low-dimensional representations of molecular association and network approaches could significantly impact the field of sex-aware drug repurposing.

Here, we present the first mitochondrial genome of Eiconaxius baja. The mitogenome contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The total length of the complete E. baja mitochondrial genome is 16,212 base pairs, and the GC content is 26.82%. The gene order is consistent with that of Eiconaxius serratus, and most other members of Axiidea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs places E. baja sister to E. serratus within Axiidae.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and affects persons of all races, ethnic groups, and sexes. The disease is characterized by neuronal loss leading to cognitive decline and memory loss. There is no cure and the effectiveness of existing treatments is limited and depends on the time of diagnosis. The long prodromal period, during which patients' ability to live a normal life is not affected despite neuronal loss, often leads to a delayed diagnosis because it can be mistaken for normal aging of the brain. In order to make a substantial impact on AD patient survival, early diagnosis may provide a greater therapeutic window for future therapies to slow AD-associated neurodegeneration. Current gold standards for disease detection include magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography scans, which visualize amyloid β and phosphorylated tau depositions and aggregates. Liquid biopsies, already an active field of research in precision oncology, are hypothesized to provide early disease detection through minimally or non-invasive sample collection techniques. Liquid biopsies in AD have been studied in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, ocular, oral, and olfactory fluids. However, most of the focus has been on blood and cerebrospinal fluid due to biomarker specificity and sensitivity attributed to the effects of the blood-brain barrier and inter-laboratory variation during sample collection. Many studies have identified amyloid β and phosphorylated tau levels as putative biomarkers, however, advances in next-generation sequencing-based liquid biopsy methods have led to significant interest in identifying nucleic acid species associated with AD from liquid tissues. Differences in cell-free RNAs and DNAs have been described as potential biomarkers for AD and hold the potential to affect disease diagnosis, treatment, and future research avenues.

Echinoids are key components of modern marine ecosystems. Despite a remarkable fossil record, the emergence of their crown group is documented by few specimens of unclear affinities, rendering their early history uncertain. The origin of sand dollars, one of its most distinctive clades, is also unclear due to an unstable phylogenetic context. We employ 18 novel genomes and transcriptomes to build a phylogenomic dataset with a near-complete sampling of major lineages. With it, we revise the phylogeny and divergence times of echinoids, and place their history within the broader context of echinoderm evolution. We also introduce the concept of a chronospace – a multidimensional representation of node ages – and use it to explore methodological decisions involved in time calibrating phylogenies. We find the choice of clock model to have the strongest impact on divergence times, while the use of site-heterogeneous models and alternative node prior distributions show minimal effects. The choice of loci has an intermediate impact, affecting mostly deep Paleozoic nodes, for which clock-like genes recover dates more congruent with fossil evidence. Our results reveal that crown group echinoids originated in the Permian and diversified rapidly in the Triassic, despite the relative lack of fossil evidence for this early diversification. We also clarify the relationships between sand dollars and their close relatives and confidently date their origins to the Cretaceous, implying ghost ranges spanning approximately 50 million years, a remarkable discrepancy with their rich fossil record.

Polynoidae Kinberg, 1856 has five branchiate genera: Branchipolynoe Pettibone, 1984, Branchinotogluma Pettibone, 1985, Branchiplicatus Pettibone, 1985, Peinaleopolynoe Desbruyères & Laubier, 1988, and Thermopolynoe Miura, 1994, all native to deep-sea, chemosynthetic-based habitats. Of these, Peinaleopolynoe has two accepted species; Peinaleopolynoe sillardi Desbruyères & Laubier, 1988 (Atlantic Ocean) and Peinaleopolynoe santacatalina Pettibone, 1993 (East Pacific Ocean). The goal of this study was to assess the phylogenetic position of Peinaleopolynoe, utilizing DNA sequences from a broad sampling of deep-sea polynoids. Representatives from all five branchiate genera were included, several species of which were sampled from near the type localities; Branchinotogluma sandersi Pettibone, 1985 from the Galápagos Rift (E/V “Nautilus”); Peinaleopolynoe sillardi from organic remains in the Atlantic Ocean; Peinaleopolynoe santacatalina from a whalefall off southern California (R/V “Western Flyer”) and Thermopolynoe branchiata Miura, 1994 from Lau Back-Arc Basin in the western Pacific (R/V “Melville”). Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using mitochondrial (COI, 16S rRNA, and CytB) and nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and H3) genes. The analyses revealed four new Peinaleopolynoe species from the Pacific Ocean that are formally described here: Peinaleopolynoe orphanae Hatch & Rouse, sp. nov., type locality Pescadero Basin in the Gulf of California, Mexico (R/V “Western Flyer”); Peinaleopolynoe elvisi Hatch & Rouse, sp. nov. and Peinaleopolynoe goffrediae Hatch & Rouse, sp. nov., both with a type locality in Monterey Canyon off California (R/V “Western Flyer”) and Peinaleopolynoe mineoi Hatch & Rouse, sp. nov. from Costa Rica methane seeps (R/V “Falkor”). In addition to DNA sequence data, the monophyly of Peinaleopolynoe is supported by the presence of ventral papillae on segments 12–15. The results also demonstrated the paraphyly of Branchinotogluma and Lepidonotopodium Pettibone, 1983 and taxonomic revision of these genera is required. We apply the subfamily name Lepidonotopodinae Pettibone 1983, for the clade comprised of Branchipolynoe, Branchinotogluma, Bathykurila, Branchiplicatus, Lepidonotopodium, Levensteiniella Pettibone, 1985, Thermopolynoe, and Peinaleopolynoe.

The four named species of Branchipolynoe all live symbiotically in mytilid mussels (Bathymodiolus) that occur at hydrothermal vents or methane seeps. Analyses using mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and nuclear (ITS) genes, as well as morphology, were conducted on a collection of Branchipolynoe from Pacific Costa Rican methane seeps and West Pacific hydrothermal vents. This revealed five new species of Branchipolynoe, and these are formally described. The new species from Costa Rica live in three species of Bathymodiolus mussels (also new) at depths ranging from 1000 to 1800 m. Branchipolynoe kajsae n. sp. and Branchipolynoe halliseyae n. sp. were found in all three undescribed Bathymodiolus species, while Branchipolynoe eliseae n. sp. was found in Bathymodiolus spp. 1 and 2, and Branchipolynoe meridae n. sp. was found in Bathymodiolus spp. 1 and 3. Hence, Bathymodiolus sp. 1 hosted all four of the new species, while the other two Bathymodiolus hosted three each. Most mussels contained only one specimen of Branchipolynoe; where there was more than one, these were often a female and smaller male of the same species. The newly discovered species from the West Pacific, Branchipolynoe tjiasmantoi n. sp., lives in unidentified Bathymodiolus at depths ranging from 674 to 2657 m from hydrothermal vents in the North Fiji (Fiji) and Lau Basins (Tonga) and also from New Zealand, Vanuatu, and the Manus Basin (Papua New Guinea). The phylogenetic and biogeographical implications of this diversity of Branchipolynoe are discussed.

Forest cover loss in the tropics is well known to cause warming at deforested sites, with maximum temperatures being particularly sensitive. Forest loss causes warming by altering local energy balance and surface roughness, local changes that can propagate across a wide range of spatial scales. Consequently, temperature increases result from not only changes in forest cover at a site, but also by the aggregate effects of non-local forest loss. We explored such non-local warming within Brazil’s Amazon and Cerrado biomes, the region with the world’s single largest amount of forest loss since 2000. Two datasets, one consisting of in-situ air temperature observations and a second, larger dataset consisting of ATs derived from remotely-sensed observations of land surface temperature, were used to quantify changes in maximum temperature due to forest cover loss at varying length-scales. We considered undisturbed forest locations (1 km ^2 in extent), and forest loss trends in annuli (‘halos’), located 1–2 km, 2–4 km, 4–10 km and 10–50 km from these undisturbed sites. Our research finds significant and substantial non-local warming, suggesting that historical estimates of warming due to forest cover loss under-estimate warming or mis-attribute warming to local change, where non-local changes also influence the pattern of temperature warming.

Abstract Our recent article, “Are Brazil's Deforesters Avoiding Detection?” demonstrated that focusing illegal deforestation enforcement on the subset of forest monitored by the flagship PRODES system has caused PRODES to capture a declining share of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Deforesters may be purposively seeking out forests not monitored for enforcement. Addressing the problem would help Brazil maintain a cutting‐edge forest governance model worthy of transfer to other nations. Two commentaries questioned our decision to investigate solely PRODES and not additional government monitoring systems. We focused on PRODES because it is the most salient deforestation monitoring system. Other key deforestation monitoring systems are all either limited to the same monitoring footprint as PRODES, not used for enforcement, or are rarely used for measuring forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon. We do agree with the commentaries that Brazil's new satellite monitoring protocol for greenhouse gas emissions estimation is critical progress of the type we were advocating in our original article.

Approved drugs target approximately 400 different mechanisms of action, of which as few as 60 are currently used as anti-cancer therapies. Given that on average it takes 10-15 years for a new cancer therapeutic to be approved, and the recent success of drug repurposing for agents such as thalidomide, we hypothesized that effective, safe cancer treatments may be found by testing approved drugs in new therapeutic settings. Here, we report in-vivo testing of a broad compound collection in cancer xenograft models. Using 182 compounds that target 125 unique target mechanisms, we identified 3 drugs that displayed reproducible activity in combination with the chemotherapeutic temozolomide. Candidate drugs appear effective at dose equivalents that exceed current prescription levels, suggesting that additional pre-clinical efforts will be needed before these drugs can be tested for efficacy in clinical trials. In total, we suggest drug repurposing is a relatively resource-intensive method that can identify approved medicines with a narrow margin of anti-cancer activity.

We report on a detailed study of longitudinal strength in the nucleon resonance region, presenting new results from inclusive electron-proton cross sections measured at Jefferson Lab Hall C in the four-momentum transfer range 0.2

Embryonic neuroepithelia and adult subventricular zone (SVZ) stem and progenitor cells express nestin. We characterized a transgenic line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) specified to neural tissue by the second intronic enhancer of the nestin promoter that had several novel features. During embryogenesis, the dorsal telencephalon contained many and the ventral telencephalon few eGFP+ cells. eGFP+ cells were found in postnatal and adult neurogenic regions. eGFP+ cells in the SVZ expressed multiple phenotype markers, glial fibrillary acidic protein, Dlx, and neuroblast-specific molecules suggesting the transgene is expressed through the lineage. eGFP+ cell numbers increased in the SVZ after cortical injury, suggesting this line will be useful in probing postinjury neurogenesis. In non-neurogenic regions, eGFP was strongly expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitors, but not in astrocytes, even when they were reactive. This eGFP+ mouse will facilitate studies of proliferative neuroepithelia and adult neurogenesis, as well as of parenchymal oligodendrocytes.

This letter uses satellite remote sensing to examine patterns of cropland expansion, cropland abandonment, and changing cropping frequency in Mato Grosso, Brazil from 2001 to 2011. During this period, Mato Grosso emerged as a globally important center of agricultural production. In 2001, 3.3 million hectares of mechanized agriculture were cultivated in Mato Grosso, of which 500 000 hectares had two commercial crops per growing season (double cropping). By 2011, Mato Grosso had 5.8 million hectares of mechanized agriculture, of which 2.9 million hectares were double cropped. We found these agricultural changes to be selective with respect to land attributes—significant differences ( p

As states, cities, tribes, and private interests cope with climate damages and seek to increase preparedness and resilience, they will need to navigate myriad choices and options available to them. Making these choices in ways that identify pathways for climate action that support their development objectives will require constructive public dialogue, community participation, and flexible and ongoing access to science- and experience-based knowledge. In 2016, a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) was convened to recommend how to conduct a sustained National Climate Assessment (NCA) to increase the relevance and usability of assessments for informing action. The FAC was disbanded in 2017, but members and additional experts reconvened to complete the report that is presented here. A key recommendation is establishing a new nonfederal ‘‘climate assessment consortium’’ to increase the role of state/local/tribal government and civil society in assessments. The expanded process would 1) focus on applied problems faced by practitioners, 2) organize sustained partnerships for collaborative learning across similar projects and case studies to identify effective tested practices, and 3) assess and improve knowledge-based methods for project implementation. Specific recommendations include evaluating climate models and data using user-defined metrics; improving benefit–cost assessment and supporting decision-making under uncertainty; and accelerating application of tools and methods such as citizen science, artificial intelligence, indicators, and geospatial analysis. The recommendations are the result of broad consultation and present an ambitious agenda for federal agencies, state/local/tribal jurisdictions, universities and the research sector, professional associations, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, and private-sector firms.

The four named species of Branchipolynoe all live symbiotically in mytilid mussels (Bathymodiolus) that occur at hydrothermal vents or methane seeps. Analyses using mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and nuclear (ITS) genes, as well as morphology, were conducted on a collection of Branchipolynoe from Pacific Costa Rican methane seeps and West Pacific hydrothermal vents. This revealed five new species of Branchipolynoe, and these are formally described. The new species from Costa Rica live in three species of Bathymodiolus mussels (also new) at depths ranging from 1000 to 1800 m. Branchipolynoe kajsae n. sp. and Branchipolynoe halliseyae n. sp. were found in all three undescribed Bathymodiolus species, while Branchipolynoe eliseae n. sp. was found in Bathymodiolus spp. 1 and 2, and Branchipolynoe meridae n. sp. was found in Bathymodiolus spp. 1 and 3. Hence, Bathymodiolus sp. 1 hosted all four of the new species, while the other two Bathymodiolus hosted three each. Most mussels contained only one specimen of Branchipolynoe; where there was more than one, these were often a female and smaller male of the same species. The newly discovered species from the West Pacific, Branchipolynoe tjiasmantoi n. sp., lives in unidentified Bathymodiolus at depths ranging from 674 to 2657 m from hydrothermal vents in the North Fiji (Fiji) and Lau Basins (Tonga) and also from New Zealand, Vanuatu, and the Manus Basin (Papua New Guinea). The phylogenetic and biogeographical implications of this diversity of Branchipolynoe are discussed.

As states, cities, tribes, and private interests cope with climate damages and seek to increase preparedness and resilience, they will need to navigate myriad choices and options available to them. Making these choices in ways that identify pathways for climate action that support their development objectives will require constructive public dialogue, community participation, and flexible and ongoing access to science- and experience-based knowledge. In 2016, a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) was convened to recommend how to conduct a sustained National Climate Assessment (NCA) to increase the relevance and usability of assessments for informing action. The FAC was disbanded in 2017, but members and additional experts reconvened to complete the report that is presented here. A key recommendation is establishing a new nonfederal ‘‘climate assessment consortium’’ to increase the role of state/local/tribal government and civil society in assessments. The expanded process would 1) focus on applied problems faced by practitioners, 2) organize sustained partnerships for collaborative learning across similar projects and case studies to identify effective tested practices, and 3) assess and improve knowledge-based methods for project implementation. Specific recommendations include evaluating climate models and data using user-defined metrics; improving benefit–cost assessment and supporting decision-making under uncertainty; and accelerating application of tools and methods such as citizen science, artificial intelligence, indicators, and geospatial analysis. The recommendations are the result of broad consultation and present an ambitious agenda for federal agencies, state/local/tribal jurisdictions, universities and the research sector, professional associations, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, and private-sector firms.

Structure functions, as measured in lepton-nucleon scattering, have proven to be very useful in studying the partonic dynamics within the nucleon. However, it is experimentally difficult to separately determine the longitudinal and transverse structure functions, and consequently there are substantially less data available in particular for the longitudinal structure function. Here, we present separated structure functions for hydrogen and deuterium at low four-momentum transfer squared, Q2

The origin of the enantiospecific decomposition of L - and D -tartaric acid on chiral Cu surfaces is elucidated on a structure-spread domed Cu(110) crystal by spatially resolved XPS and atomic-scale STM imaging. Extensive enantiospecific surface restructuring leads to the formation of surfaces vicinal to Cu(14,17,2) which are responsible for the enantiospecificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nereidid polychaetes are well known from shallow marine habitats, but their diversity in the deep sea is poorly known. Here we describe an unusual new nereidid species found at methane seeps off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Specimens of Pectinereis strickrotti gen. nov., sp. nov. had been observed dating back to 2009 swimming just above the seafloor at ~1,000 m depth but were not successfully captured until 2018. Male epitokes were collected as well as a fragment of an infaunal female found in a pushcore sample. The specimens were all confirmed as the same species based on mitochondrial COI. Phylogenetic analyses, including one based on available whole mitochondrial genomes for nereidids, revealed no close relative, allowing for the placement of the new species in its own genus within the subfamily Nereidinae. This was supported by the unusual non-reproductive and epitokous morphology, including parapodial cirrostyles as pectinate gills, hooked aciculae, elfin-shoe-shaped ventral cirrophores, and elongate, fusiform dorsal ligules emerging sub-medially to enlarged cirrophores. Additionally, the gill-bearing subfamily Dendronereidinae, generally regarded as a junior synonym of Gymnonereidinae, is reviewed and it is here reinstated and as a monogeneric taxon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilargidae is a family of free-living and burrowing marine annelids. A lack of available molecular data for most of these species has precluded a molecular assessment of their phylogenetic relationships and has left uncertain the placement of Antonbruunia, which is hypothesized to be either a member of Pilargidae or its sister clade, the monotypic family Antonbruunidae. In this study, we describe the new species Antonbruunia milenae sp. nov., found at 845 m of depth off the coast of San Diego, California, USA, and we address the phylogeny of these organisms using 15 novel mitogenomes and multiple Sanger-sequenced loci. Our results show that Antonbruunia falls within Pilargidae, making Antonbruunidae a junior synonym of Pilargidae. Glyphohesione was transferred from Pilarginae to Synelminae, the previously unassigned genera Otopsis and Antonbruunia were shown to belong within Synelminae, and Hermundura was assigned to Phyllodocida incertae sedis. Sigambra was found to be non-monophyletic. Four different mitogenome gene orders were found among Pilargidae. Changes between the gene orders and the ancestral state gene order of the family were inferred. Two species have introns within the COI gene. These efforts represent a significant expansion of the available molecular resources for pilargids, as well as the basis for a more stable taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the mitochondrial genome of the deep-sea, epibenthic, irregular echinoid Echinocrepis rostrata, representing the first sequenced mitogenome of the order Holasteroida. The length of the complete E. rostrata mitochondrial genome is 15,716 base pairs, and its GC content is 34.87%. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes, whose order is identical to that of all other available echinoid mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis of available mitochondrial genomes, based on all coding loci, places E. rostrata as the sister group to spatangoids (heart urchins). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xyloplax is a genus of three species of sea stars previously found only on sunken wood in the deep ocean. Their circular and petaloid bodies, which lend them their common name "sea daisy", and their presumed exclusive diet of wood make them an unusual and rare element of deep-sea ecosystems. We describe here the fourth species of Xyloplax from the eastern Pacific Ocean, Xyloplax princealberti n. sp., which ranges from offshore Canada to the Gulf of California (Mexico) and Costa Rica. Though sampled geographically close to another described species of Xyloplax from the northeastern Pacific, X. janetae, this new species is unique morphologically and according to available DNA data. The short abactinal spines are the most obvious feature that distinguishes X. princealberti n. sp. from other Xyloplax. The minimum distance for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I from Xyloplax princealberti n. sp. to the only other available Xyloplax, X. janetae, was 13.5%. We also describe Ridgeia vestimentiferan tubeworm bushes from active hydrothermal vents as a new Xyloplax habitat, the first record of a non-wood substrate, and a new reproductive strategy, simultaneous hermaphroditism, for this genus. We generated the first mitochondrial genome for a member of Xyloplax and analyzed it with other available asteroid data using nucleotide-coding or amino acid (for protein-coding genes) plus nucleotide coding (for rRNA genes). The nucleotide-coding results place Xylopax as part of the clade Velatida, consistent with a previous phylogenomic analysis that included Xyloplax princealberti n. sp. (as Xyloplax sp.), though the placement of Velatida within Asteroidea differed. The amino acid plus nucleotide coding recovered Velatida to be a grade with X. princealberti n. sp. as sister group to all other Asteroidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the impressive performance of recent marine robots, many of their components are non‐biodegradable or even toxic and may negatively impact sensitive ecosystems. To overcome these limitations, biologically‐sourced hydrogels are a candidate material for marine robotics. Recent advances in embedded 3D printing have expanded the design freedom of hydrogel additive manufacturing. However, 3D printing small‐scale hydrogel‐based actuators remains challenging. In this study, Free form reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) printing is applied to fabricate small‐scale biologically‐derived, marine‐sourced hydraulic actuators by printing thin‐wall structures that are water‐tight and pressurizable. Calcium‐alginate hydrogels are used, a sustainable biomaterial sourced from brown seaweed. This process allows actuators to have complex shapes and internal cavities that are difficult to achieve with traditional fabrication techniques. Furthermore, it demonstrates that fabricated components are biodegradable, safely edible, and digestible by marine organisms. Finally, a reversible chelation‐crosslinking mechanism is implemented to dynamically modify alginate actuators' structural stiffness and morphology. This study expands the possible design space for biodegradable marine robots by improving the manufacturability of complex soft devices using biologically‐sourced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The suicide risk in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving novel oral anticoagulants or warfarin has not been evaluated in real-world practice. Moreover, reducing vitamin K levels may increase the suicide risk, underscoring the importance of selecting appropriate oral anticoagulants to prevent unintended outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between different types of oral anticoagulants and the risk of attempted and completed suicide among patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods This nationwide study retrieved data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2012 to 2020. This study included patients with atrial fibrillation aged 20 years and older who newly received oral anticoagulant treatment, and who had no contraindications for NOACs and no history of suicide-related events. The main outcomes were suicide-related outcomes, including attempted suicide and completed suicide. This study employed the target trial emulation framework to improve the causal inference for the observed association. Results A total of 103,768 (71.74%) patients taking NOACs and 40,877 (28.26%) patients taking warfarin were included in this study. Compared to those receiving warfarin, patients receiving NOACs were associated with a lower risk of suicide-related outcomes (HR, 0.82; 95% CIs, 0.69–0.96). Conclusions The findings of this cohort study suggested that patients receiving NOACs were associated with a lower risk of suicidal attempts but similar risk of complete suicide, compared to those receiving warfarin. Considering the risk of suicide, NOACs could be the preferred anticoagulants for patients with atrial fibrillation.