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Abstract Background Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an under‐recognized cause of heart failure. Left atrial (LA) myopathy contributes to a worse prognosis in heart failure and is a feature of transthyretin (ATTR) and light‐chain (AL) CA. LA mechanical dispersion (LA‐MD) is a novel marker of intra‐atrial dyssynchrony implicated in LA myopathy and the future development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Aims This study aimed to determine the characteristics and prognostic value of LA myopathy in ATTR and AL cardiomyopathy through a comprehensive LA echocardiographic evaluation. Methods ATTR (n = 86) and AL (n = 86) CA patients were compared with hypertensive heart disease (HHT) patients (n = 58). Transthoracic echocardiographic measurements including LA strain and LA‐MD were obtained with patient follow‐up for mortality. Results ATTR and AL patients had a median follow‐up of 66 months, with 26 mortality events. Left ventricular (LV) mass, diastolic function (average‐e′ and E/e′), LV global longitudinal strain, and LA volume and function (LA function index and strain) were more impaired in ATTR versus AL; these echocardiographic parameters were more impaired in both amyloid groups compared to HHT patients (P

Abstract As the urgency to evaluate the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems increases, there is a need to develop robust projections and improve the uptake of ecosystem model outputs in policy and planning. Standardizing input and output data is a crucial step in evaluating and communicating results, but can be challenging when using models with diverse structures, assumptions, and outputs that address region‐specific issues. We developed an implementation framework and workflow to standardize the climate and fishing forcings used by regional models contributing to the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP) and to facilitate comparative analyses across models and a wide range of regions, in line with the FishMIP 3a protocol. We applied our workflow to three case study areas‐models: the Baltic Sea Mizer, Hawai'i‐based Longline fisheries therMizer, and the southern Benguela ecosystem Atlantis marine ecosystem models. We then selected the most challenging steps of the workflow and illustrated their implementation in different model types and regions. Our workflow is adaptable across a wide range of regional models, from non‐spatially explicit to spatially explicit and fully‐depth resolved models and models that include one or several fishing fleets. This workflow will facilitate the development of regional marine ecosystem model ensembles and enhance future research on marine ecosystem model development and applications, model evaluation and benchmarking, and global‐to‐regional model comparisons.

Abstract Premise The selection of Arabidopsis as a model organism played a pivotal role in advancing genomic science. The competing frameworks to select an agricultural‐ or ecological‐based model species were rejected, in favor of building knowledge in a species that would facilitate genome‐enabled research. Methods Here, we examine the ability of models based on Arabidopsis gene expression data to predict tissue identity in other flowering plants. Comparing different machine learning algorithms, models trained and tested on Arabidopsis data achieved near perfect precision and recall values, whereas when tissue identity is predicted across the flowering plants using models trained on Arabidopsis data, precision values range from 0.69 to 0.74 and recall from 0.54 to 0.64. Results The identity of belowground tissue can be predicted more accurately than other tissue types, and the ability to predict tissue identity is not correlated with phylogenetic distance from Arabidopsis. k‐nearest neighbors is the most successful algorithm, suggesting that gene expression signatures, rather than marker genes, are more valuable to create models for tissue and cell type prediction in plants. Discussion Our data‐driven results highlight that the assertion that knowledge from Arabidopsis is translatable to other plants is not always true. Considering the current landscape of abundant sequencing data, we should reevaluate the scientific emphasis on Arabidopsis and prioritize plant diversity.

Abstract There is an urgent need for models that can robustly detect past and project future ecosystem changes and risks to the services that they provide to people. The Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP) was established to develop model ensembles for projecting long‐term impacts of climate change on fisheries and marine ecosystems while informing policy at spatio‐temporal scales relevant to the Inter‐Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP) framework. While contributing FishMIP models have improved over time, large uncertainties in projections remain, particularly in coastal and shelf seas where most of the world's fisheries occur. Furthermore, previous FishMIP climate impact projections have been limited by a lack of global standardized historical fishing data, low resolution of coastal processes, and uneven capabilities across the FishMIP community to dynamically model fisheries. These features are needed to evaluate how reliably the FishMIP ensemble captures past ecosystem states ‐ a crucial step for building confidence in future projections. To address these issues, we have developed FishMIP 2.0 comprising a two‐track framework for: (a) Model evaluation and attribution of past changes and (b) future climate and socioeconomic scenario projections. Key advances include improved historical climate forcing, which captures oceanographic features not previously resolved, and standardized global fishing forcing to test fishing effects systematically across models. FishMIP 2.0 is a crucial step toward a detection and attribution framework for changing marine ecosystems and toward enhanced policy relevance through increased confidence in future ensemble projections. Our results will help elucidate pathways toward achieving sustainable development goals.

Abstract The premise of research in human physiology is to explore a multifaceted system whilst identifying one or a few outcomes of interest. Therefore, the control of potentially confounding variables requires careful thought regarding the extent of control and complexity of standardisation. One common factor to control prior to testing is diet, as food and fluid provision may deviate from participants’ habitual diets, yet a self‐report and replication method can be flawed by under‐reporting. Researchers may also need to consider standardisation of physical activity, whether it be through familiarisation trials, wash‐out periods, or guidance on levels of physical activity to be achieved before trials. In terms of pharmacological agents, the ethical implications of standardisation require researchers to carefully consider how medications, caffeine consumption and oral contraceptive prescriptions may affect the study. For research in females, it should be considered whether standardisation between‐ or within‐participants in regards to menstrual cycle phase is most relevant. The timing of measurements relative to various other daily events is relevant to all physiological research and so it can be important to standardise when measurements are made. This review summarises the areas of standardisation which we hope will be considered useful to anyone involved in human physiology research, including when and how one can apply standardisation to various contexts.

Abstract Terrestrial plants are sensitive indicators of global warming because their annual cycles of growth and senescence are changing as warming proceeds. Single celled algae are distinct life forms capable of population bursts in any season, so there is uncertainty about phytoplankton phenology as a comparable indicator of global warming. We analyzed 4+ decades of monthly chlorophyll a measurements at two sites in San Francisco Bay and found abrupt shifts during summer months leading to a 48‐day advance in the annual pattern of chlorophyll‐a accumulation at one site and a 36‐day delay at the other. These large phenological changes were not associated with changing temperature, but they were associated with changes in top–down control by bivalve filter feeders as biological communities were restructured by (1) introduction of a non‐native clam, and (2) a shift in atmospheric forcing of the NE Pacific. This study illustrates that changes in phytoplankton phenology are not necessarily responses to or indicators of global warming. However, they can be indicators of human disturbances and natural climate oscillations having effects large enough to mask the effect of climate warming.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Smartphones are proving useful in assessing movement and speech function in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Valid outcomes across different smartphones are needed before population‐level tests are deployed. This study introduces the TapTalk protocol, a novel app designed to capture hand and speech function and validate it in smartphones against gold‐standard measures. METHODS Twenty different smartphones collected video data from motor tests and audio data from speech tests. Features were extracted using Google Mediapipe (movement) and Python audio analysis packages (speech). Electromagnetic sensors (60 Hz) and a microphone acquired simultaneous movement and voice data, respectively. RESULTS TapTalk video and audio outcomes were comparable to gold‐standard data: 90.3% of video, and 98.3% of audio, data recorded tapping/speech frequencies within ± 1 Hz of the gold‐standard measures. DISCUSSION Validation of TapTalk across a range of devices is an important step in the development of smartphone‐based telemedicine and was achieved in this study. Highlights TapTalk evaluates hand motor and speech functions across a wide range of smartphones. Data showed 90.3% motor and 98.3% speech accuracy within +/–1 Hz of gold standards. Validation advances smartphone‐based telemedicine for neurodegenerative diseases.

ABSTRACT In many socially monogamous bird species with biparental care, occasional social polygyny has been detected. We provide information about a case of facultative polygyny in the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). The male nightjar (I96) formed a pair with two females (I95: the presumed primary female with whom he already bred since 2018; M042: the presumed secondary female, an inexperienced yearling). GPS and accelerometer data demonstrate how the male only sang in proximity of the primary nest, while assisting both females during incubation, as well as during the nestling period. When the male came to the nest, the primary and/or secondary female went foraging, but the secondary female received less assistance during incubation than the primary female, and her eggs were often left unattended. However, once the chicks of the secondary female hatched, male assistance suddenly increased, presumably at a cost to the primary female. Being only the second record of social polygyny in the European Nightjar, we do not have a direct explication for the occurrence of this polygynous event. We note that male density at the study site was lower than that observed in previous seasons. The male may have taken over the female that was initially paired to a neighbouring territory holder that then died. Alternatively, the inexperienced female might have mated with an already paired male, either because she was not aware of the mating status of the male, or because she could not find an unpaired male, or because mating with this paired male was better than mating with another unpaired male. In any case, the breeding ecology and mating behaviour of this crepuscular bird species remains little understood.

Abstract Climate change is increasingly affecting the world's ocean ecosystems, necessitating urgent guidance on adaptation strategies to limit or prevent catastrophic impacts. The Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP) is a network and framework that provides standardised ensemble projections of the impacts of climate change and fisheries on ocean life and the benefits that it provides to people. Since its official launch in 2013 as a small, self‐organized project within the larger Inter‐Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project, the FishMIP community has grown substantially and contributed to key international policy processes, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report, and the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Global Biodiversity Assessment. While not without challenges, particularly around comparing heterogeneous ecosystem models, integrating fisheries scenarios, and standardising regional‐scale ecosystem models, FishMIP outputs are now being used across a variety of applications (e.g., climate change targets, fisheries management, marine conservation, Sustainable Development Goals). Over the next decade, FishMIP will focus on improving ecosystem model ensembles to provide more robust and policy‐relevant projections for different regions of the world under multiple climate and societal change scenarios, and continue to be open to a broad spectrum of marine ecosystem models and modelers. FishMIP also intends to enhance leadership diversity and capacity‐building to improve representation of early‐ and mid‐career researchers from under‐represented countries and ocean regions. As we look ahead, FishMIP aims to continue enhancing our understanding of how marine life and its contributions to people may change over the coming century at both global and regional scales.

Abstract The University of Florida Health conducted a pragmatic implementation of a pharmacogenetics (PGx) panel‐based test to guide medications used for supportive care prescribed to patients undergoing chemotherapy. The implementation was in the context of a pragmatic clinical trial for patients with non‐hematologic cancers being treated with chemotherapy. Patients were randomized to either the intervention arm or control arm and received PGx testing immediately or at the end of the study, respectively. Patients completed the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) to assess quality of life (QoL). A total of 150 patients received PGx testing and enrolled in the study. Clinical decision support and implementation infrastructure were developed. While the study was originally planned for 500 patients, we were underpowered in our sample of 150 patients to test differences in the patient‐reported MDASI scores. We did observed a high completion rate (92%) of the questionnaires; however, there were few medication changes (n = 6 in the intervention arm) based on PGx test results. Despite this, we learned several lessons through this pragmatic implementation of a PGx panel‐based test in an outpatient oncology setting. Most notably, patients were less willing to undergo PGx testing if the cost of the test exceeded $100. In addition, to enhance PGx implementation success, reoccurring provider education is necessary, clinical decision support needs to appear in a more conducive way to fit in with oncologists' workflow, and PGx test results need to be available earlier in treatment planning.

Abstract Objective We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons and to compare it to conventional hemithyroidectomy in the public healthcare, operating theater contained setting. Methods 50 patients who underwent a single session of RFA for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules in Prince of Wales Hospital and Tseung Kwan O Hospital in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2022 were evaluated. Objective outcomes including nodule volume, volume reduction rate (VRR) and complications were recorded. Subjective response in the form of a 0–10 point scale for patient symptoms including obstructive, cosmetic, pain and satisfaction scores were collected. Results Significant reduction in mean VRR was found at 3, 6 and 12 months post treatment, accompanied by a significant reduction in the mean obstructive and cosmetic symptom scores. Comparing with conventional hemithyroidectomy, the RFA group had a significantly shorter mean procedure time and lower rate of complications. Estimated cost to patient for RFA was found to be less than half of that of hemithyroidectomy. Conclusion RFA is a safe and effective treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons with advantages of being a scarless local anesthetic procedure with shorter procedure time, lower complication rate and lower cost to patient compared to hemithyroidectomy. In Hong Kong, where most of the population is treated in the public sector, there are limited resources, often with high caseload burden and long operation waiting times. Therefore, RFA is an office‐based treatment that serves as a valuable alternative to hemithyroidectomy for benign nodules, especially in lower resource settings. Level of evidence 3.

Abstract Background Exercise‐based swallowing training (EBST) and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (TNMES) are common modalities used to treat late dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to investigate and compare the efficacies of EBST and TNMES as proactive treatments administered early after radiotherapy. Methods Patients with early post‐radiotherapy NPC (n = 120) underwent either TNMES or EBST. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), quality of life (QOL), and swallowing function questionnaires were completed before the intervention as well as immediately, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. Outcome measures included the scores for the swallowing function score (SFS), penetration and aspiration scale (PAS), dynamic imaging grade of swallowing toxicity (DIGEST), functional oral intake scale (FOIS), swallowing performance status scale (SPSS), pharyngeal motor impairment (PMI), pharyngeal function impairment (PFI), and functional assessment after cancer therapy–nasopharyngeal (FACT‐NP) questionnaire. Results Three months after radiotherapy, 31 and 34 patients underwent TNMES and EBST, respectively, and completed swallowing assessments at all four assessment timepoints. All patients showed post‐radiotherapy impairments in the SFS, PAS, DIGEST, PMI, and PFI. Compared with the EBST group, the TNMES group showed significant improvements in the PFI and PMI scores, with small‐to‐medium effect sizes. Additionally, compared with the EBST group, the TNMES group demonstrated a trend toward slightly better improvements in the PAS, DIGEST, FOIS, and SPSS scores immediately and 6 months after the intervention. The SFS scores improved from baseline in both groups; however, the TNMES group showed an earlier improvement. Finally, the TNMES group showed better QOL according to the FACT‐NP than the EBST group. Conclusion Proactive TMNES and EBST are safe and feasible modalities for improving swallowing in patients with NPC when administered early after radiotherapy. Although TNMES showed better results than EBST, these results should be interpreted with caution given the study limitations. Level of evidence 1B.

Abstract Lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus, have historically been harvested throughout Atlantic Canada and are increasingly in demand as a solution to controlling sea lice in Atlantic salmon farms—a process which involves both the domestication and the transfer of lumpfish between geographic regions. At present, little is known regarding population structure and diversity of wild lumpfish in Atlantic Canada, limiting attempts to assess the potential impacts of escaped lumpfish individuals from salmon pens on currently at‐risk wild populations. Here, we characterize the spatial population structure and genomic‐environmental associations of wild populations of lumpfish throughout the Northwest Atlantic using both 70K SNP array data and whole‐genome re‐sequencing data (WGS). At broad spatial scales, our results reveal a large environmentally associated genetic break between the southern populations (Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy) and northern populations (Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence), linked to variation in ocean temperature and ice cover. At finer spatial scales, evidence of population structure was also evident in a distinct coastal group in Newfoundland and significant isolation by distance across the northern region. Both evidence of consistent environmental associations and elevated genome‐wide variation in FST values among these three regional groups supports their biological relevance. This study represents the first extensive description of population structure of lumpfish in Atlantic Canada, revealing evidence of broad and fine geographic scale environmentally associated genomic diversity. Our results will facilitate the commercial use of lumpfish as a cleaner fish in Atlantic salmon aquaculture, the identification of lumpfish escapees, and the delineation of conservation units of this at‐risk species throughout Atlantic Canada.

Abstract Computer‐aided craniofacial reconstruction (CFR) is a process that aims to estimate facial impressions based on skull remains. It mimics the conventional method with a conceptual model‐based framework. The existing problems in CFR are that landmark annotation is expert‐dependent, landmark processing in the 3D domain has volumetric challenges, and a method based on a population's morphological characteristics (templates). A framework with three stages is proposed: Building a craniofacial model, automatic landmark detection, and surface deformation. Machine learning is deployed to draw local surface correlations as landmarks and automatically detects their position. The local surface context is extracted using the Surface Curvature Feature (SCF) as a 3D descriptor. Using a cluster‐based filter, the average distance (to the ground truth) of the top 20 points is 0.0326 units. Cluster‐based filters are better than mass‐radius‐based filters and consistently give better pinpoint accuracy, especially in multi‐cluster cases. Training data consists of 140,000 SCF for ten landmark classes. The third stage, surface deformation, fits the facial template to the cranial based on the corresponding facial‐cranial landmarks. Five experts from the Anthropology department stated that of the reconstruction results, 91.5% could retain the template details and are accepted as the natural shape of the human face.

Abstract Previous findings suggest that medically underserved patients are prescribed medications with pharmacogenetic (PGx) guidelines at a high frequency. Thus, underserved patients may especially benefit from PGx testing, but little evidence exists regarding the effect of testing in this population. This pilot study aimed to generate key feasibility data and explore clinical outcomes of PGx implementation in underserved populations. Black and Latino patients were recruited from an outpatient clinic and underwent PGx testing. Feasibility measures included enrollment metrics and actionable genotype frequencies. The primary clinical outcome was patient medication treatment satisfaction 6 months after testing. Implementation outcomes included the number of healthcare provider encounters and medication changes within the 6‐month follow‐up. Effectiveness outcomes included medication adherence, patient‐perceived test value, and time spent discussing medications with providers. Ninety‐nine patients completed the study. Proton‐pump inhibitors were the most frequent PGx drug class prescribed at baseline (61%) followed by nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (36%). Patients with an actionable genotype constituted 96% of the population, whereas 28% had an actionable genotype related to their PGx drug. Patient treatment satisfaction significantly increased over the 6 months after PGx testing. In addition, medication adherence and the number of provider encounters significantly increased over the study period. In a pilot study, preemptive PGx testing was feasible in primary care clinics, improved patient treatment satisfaction and adherence, and increased the number of provider encounters in medically underserved patients. Future clinical trials are warranted to assess the long‐term effects of PGx testing in a larger diverse patient population.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Low‐cost simple tests for preclinical Alzheimer's disease are a research priority. We evaluated whether remote unsupervised webcam recordings of finger‐tapping were associated with cognitive performance in older adults. METHODS A total of 404 cognitively‐asymptomatic participants (64.6 [6.77] years; 70.8% female) completed 10‐second finger‐tapping tests (Tasmanian [TAS] Test) and cognitive tests (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery [CANTAB]) online at home. Regression models including hand movement features were compared with null models (comprising age, sex, and education level); change in Akaike Information Criterion greater than 2 (ΔAIC > 2) denoted statistical difference. RESULTS Hand movement features improved prediction of episodic memory, executive function, and working memory scores (ΔAIC > 2). Dominant hand features outperformed nondominant hand features for episodic memory (ΔAIC = 2.5), executive function (ΔAIC = 4.8), and working memory (ΔAIC = 2.2). DISCUSSION This brief webcam test improved prediction of cognitive performance compared to age, sex, and education. Finger‐tapping holds potential as a remote language‐agnostic screening tool to stratify community cohorts at risk for cognitive decline.

Abstract Modelling is widely used in ecology and its utility continues to increase as scientists, managers and policy‐makers face pressure to effectively manage ecosystems and meet conservation goals with limited resources. As the urgency to forecast ecosystem responses to global change grows, so do the number and complexity of predictive ecological models and the value of iterative prediction, both of which demand validation and cross‐model comparisons. This challenges ecologists to provide predictive models that are reusable, interoperable, transparent and able to accommodate updates to both data and algorithms. We propose a practical solution to this challenge based on the PERFICT principles (frequent Predictions and Evaluations of Reusable, Freely accessible, Interoperable models, built within Continuous workflows that are routinely Tested), using a modular and integrated framework. We present its general implementation across seven common components of ecological model applications—(i) the modelling toolkit; (ii) data acquisition and treatment; (iii) model parameterisation and calibration; (iv) obtaining predictions; (v) model validation; (vi) analysing and presenting model outputs; and (vii) testing model code—and apply it to two approaches used to predict species distributions: (1) a static statistical model, and (2) a complex spatiotemporally dynamic model. Adopting a continuous workflow enabled us to reuse our models in new study areas, update predictions with new data, and re‐parameterise with different interoperable modules using freely accessible data sources, all with minimal user input. This allowed repeating predictions and automatically evaluating their quality, while centralised inputs, parameters and outputs, facilitated ensemble forecasting and tracking uncertainty. Importantly, the integrated model validation promotes a continuous evaluation of the quality of more‐ or less‐parsimonious models, which is valuable in predictive ecological modelling. By linking all stages of an ecological modelling exercise, it is possible to overcome common challenges faced by ecological modellers, such as changing study areas, choosing between different modelling approaches, and evaluating the appropriateness of the model. This ultimately creates a more equitable and robust playing field for both modellers and end users (e.g. managers), and contributes to position predictive ecology as a central contributor to global change forecasting.

Abstract Our experimental work illustrates how microbial ecosystems can be shaped by selective pressures over long‐term ecological time scales. Natural microbial ecosystems generally consist of various co‐existing species, where community composition describes the frequency at which species or types are present. Overall functionality of the system is achieved by interacting species. Upon short‐term selection, for instance by transfer to a novel environment, community composition and functionality may change in a process referred to as species sorting. Various factors, such as initial community composition and selective pressures from the environment, may influence this change. Mabisi is a traditional fermented food from Zambia that naturally contains a bacterial community of around twenty unique bacterial types. We used six comparable but different natural bacterial Mabisi communities, each split into five identical replicates, for 16 propagation cycles in a novel, common laboratory environment. Composition of the bacterial communities changed upon propagation. The influence of four main factors on community composition, i.e. initial composition (history), impact of the environment (adaptation), changes due to interaction between species and random processes (chance) in species dynamics, was tested using maximum likelihood ratios. Initial community composition seemed to determine the change in community composition, followed by random processes. Interestingly, we observed convergence at the level of ecosystem functionality, which was measured as profiles of metabolic output. This suggests different combinations of species or types can achieve similar eco‐system functionality.

Summary Gram‐positive bacterial extracellular membrane vesicles (EVs) have been drawing more attention in recent years. However, mechanistic insights are still lacking on how EVs are released through the cell walls in Gram‐positive bacteria. In this study, we characterized underlying mechanisms of EV production and provide evidence for a role of prophage activation in EV release using the Gram‐positive bacterium Lactococcus lactis as a model. By applying a standard EV isolation procedure, we observed the presence of EVs in the culture supernatant of a lysogenic L. lactis strain FM‐YL11, for which the prophage‐inducing condition led to an over 10‐fold increase in EV production in comparison with the non‐inducing condition. In contrast, the prophage‐encoded holin–lysin knockout mutant YL11ΔHLH and the prophage‐cured mutant FM‐YL12 produced constantly low levels of EVs. Under the prophage‐inducing condition, FM‐YL11 did not show massive cell lysis. Defective phage particles were found to be released in and associated with holin–lysin‐induced EVs from FM‐YL11, as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopic images, flow cytometry and proteomics analysis. Findings from this study further generalized the EV‐producing phenotype to Gram‐positive L. lactis, and provide additional insights into the EV production mechanism involving prophage‐encoded holin–lysin system. The knowledge on bacterial EV production can be applied to all Gram‐positive bacteria and other lactic acid bacteria with important roles in fermentations and probiotic formulations, to enable desired release and delivery of cellular components with nutritional values or probiotic effects.

Abstract Conservation approaches that efficiently protect multiple values, such as the umbrella species concept, have been widely promoted with expected dramatic ecosystem changes. Due to its social and cultural importance, and recent declining trends, boreal populations of woodland caribou have been suggested as potential umbrella species for other declining taxa, such as boreal landbirds. We propose a generic pixel‐based umbrella index that focuses on fine‐grained habitat overlaps. In light of ongoing conservation efforts worldwide implementing area‐based targets (e.g., 30% by 2030), we used a random neutral model as baseline, as opposed to a no‐conservation scenario, which has been used elsewhere. We found that the conservation efficiency of caribou as an umbrella for 71 co‐occurring landbirds—three of which are priority species—in the Northwest Territories, Canada, is generally lower than our random model, as 53% of the species presented negative umbrella index medians with the interquartile range not overlapping zero. We conclude that in cases where area‐based targets drive decision‐making and the issue at stake involves identifying which areas to conserve—not whether to conserve—woodland caribou may be a leaky umbrella for most co‐occurring landbird species and these might need complementary conservation actions to be brought in from the rain.

Abstract Near‐term climate forcers (NTCFs) can influence climate via interaction with the Earth's radiative balance and include both aerosols and trace gas constituents of the atmosphere (such as methane and ozone). Two of the principal NTCFs, aerosols (particulate matter) and tropospheric ozone (O3), can also affect local air quality when present in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Previous studies have shown that mitigation of NTCFs has the potential to improve air quality and reduce the rate of surface warming induced by long‐lived greenhouse gases. Here, we assess the combined air quality and climate impacts from changes in NTCFs under numerous different future mitigation scenarios, relative to a future reference scenario, that were conducted by a single Earth system model (UKESM1) as part of the Aerosol and Chemistry Model Intercomparison Project (AerChemMIP). Co‐benefits to both global air quality and climate are only achieved in the future scenario with strong mitigation measures applied to all NTCFs, particularly aerosols and methane, with penalties identified for inaction. When compared to the combined NTCF mitigation scenario, analysis of individual mitigation scenarios shows that there are important non‐linearities and interactions between NTCFs (e.g., aerosols and clouds). If only aerosol components are mitigated, there are still benefits to air quality but detrimental impacts on climate, particularly at the regional scale. In addition, other changes in future land‐use and climate could have important impacts on regional NTCFs, which should be considered when designing future mitigation measures to anthropogenic emissions.

Background We investigated preoperative referral patterns, rates of cardiovascular testing, surgical wait times, and postoperative outcomes in White versus Black, Hispanic, or other racial or ethnic groups of patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. Methods and Results This was a single center retrospective cohort analysis of 797 consecutive patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery from January 2014 to December 2018; 86% (n=682) were Black, Hispanic, or other racial or ethnic groups. White versus Black, Hispanic, or other racial or ethnic groups had similar baseline comorbidities and were referred for preoperative cardiovascular evaluation in similar proportion (65% versus 68%, P=0.529). Black, Hispanic, or other racial or ethnic groups of patients were less likely to undergo preoperative cardiovascular testing (unadjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33–0.95; P=0.031; adjusted for Revised Cardiac Risk Index OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.35–0.996; P=0.049). White patients had a shorter wait time for surgery (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.7; 95% CI, 0.58–0.87; P=0.001; adjusted HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.56–0.95; P=0.018). Reduction in body mass index at 6 months was greater in White patients (12.9 kg/m2 versus 12.0 kg/m2, P=0.0289), but equivalent at 1 year (14.9 kg/m2 versus 14.3 kg/m2, P=0.330). Conclusions White versus Black, Hispanic, or other racial or ethnic groups of patients were referred for preoperative cardiovascular evaluation in similar proportion. White patients underwent more preoperative cardiac testing yet had a shorter wait time for surgery. Early weight loss was greater in White patients, but equivalent between groups at 12 months.

Abstract MLL‐rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents a highly aggressive ALL subtype, characterized by aberrant DNA methylation patterns. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, such as decitabine have previously been demonstrated to be effective in eradicating MLL‐rearranged ALL cells in vitro. Here, we assessed the in vivo anti‐leukemic potential of low‐dose DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine using a xenograft mouse model of human MLL‐rearranged ALL. Furthermore, we explored whether prolonged exposure to low‐dose decitabine could chemo‐sensitize MLL‐rearranged ALL cells toward conventional chemotherapy as well as other known epigenetic‐based and anti‐neoplastic compounds. Our data reveal that decitabine prolonged survival in xenograft mice of MLL‐rearranged ALL by 8.5 days (P = .0181), but eventually was insufficient to prevent leukemia out‐growth, based on the examination of the MLLAF4 cell line SEM. Furthermore, we observe that prolonged pretreatment of low‐dose decitabine mildly sensitized toward the conventional drugs prednisolone, vincristine, daunorubicin, asparaginase, and cytarabine in a panel of MLL‐rearranged cell lines. Additionally, we assessed synergistic effects of decitabine with other epigenetic‐based or anticancer drugs using high‐throughput drug library screens. Validation of the top hits, including histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat, BCL2 inhibitor Venetoclax, MEK inhibitor pimasertib, and receptor tyrosine kinase foretinib, revealed additive and moderate synergistic effects for the combination of each drug together with decitabine in a cell line‐dependent manner.

Summary We have recently argued that, because microbes have pervasive – often vital – influences on our lives, and that therefore their roles must be taken into account in many of the decisions we face, society must become microbiology‐literate, through the introduction of relevant microbiology topics in school curricula (Timmis et al. 2019. Environ Microbiol 21: 1513‐1528). The current coronavirus pandemic is a stark example of why microbiology literacy is such a crucial enabler of informed policy decisions, particularly those involving preparedness of public‐health systems for disease outbreaks and pandemics. However, a significant barrier to attaining widespread appreciation of microbial contributions to our well‐being and that of the planet is the fact that microbes are seldom visible: most people are only peripherally aware of them, except when they fall ill with an infection. And it is disease, rather than all of the positive activities mediated by microbes, that colours public perception of ‘germs’ and endows them with their poor image. It is imperative to render microbes visible, to give them life and form for children (and adults), and to counter prevalent misconceptions, through exposure to imagination‐capturing images of microbes and examples of their beneficial outputs, accompanied by a balanced narrative. This will engender automatic mental associations between everyday information inputs, as well as visual, olfactory and tactile experiences, on the one hand, and the responsible microbes/microbial communities, on the other hand. Such associations, in turn, will promote awareness of microbes and of the many positive and vital consequences of their actions, and facilitate and encourage incorporation of such consequences into relevant decision‐making processes. While teaching microbiology topics in primary and secondary school is key to this objective, a strategic programme to expose children directly and personally to natural and managed microbial processes, and the results of their actions, through carefully planned class excursions to local venues, can be instrumental in bringing microbes to life for children and, collaterally, their families. In order to encourage the embedding of microbiology‐centric class excursions in current curricula, we suggest and illustrate here some possibilities relating to the topics of food (a favourite pre‐occupation of most children), agriculture (together with horticulture and aquaculture), health and medicine, the environment and biotechnology. And, although not all of the microbially relevant infrastructure will be within reach of schools, there is usually access to a market, local food store, wastewater treatment plant, farm, surface water body, etc., all of which can provide opportunities to explore microbiology in action. If children sometimes consider the present to be mundane, even boring, they are usually excited with both the past and the future so, where possible, visits to local museums (the past) and research institutions advancing knowledge frontiers (the future) are strongly recommended, as is a tapping into the natural enthusiasm of local researchers to leverage the educational value of excursions and virtual excursions. Children are also fascinated by the unknown, so, paradoxically, the invisibility of microbes makes them especially fascinating objects for visualization and exploration. In outlining some of the options for microbiology excursions, providing suggestions for discussion topics and considering their educational value, we strive to extend the vistas of current class excursions and to: (i) inspire teachers and school managers to incorporate more microbiology excursions into curricula; (ii) encourage microbiologists to support school excursions and generally get involved in bringing microbes to life for children; (iii) urge leaders of organizations (biopharma, food industries, universities, etc.) to give school outreach activities a more prominent place in their mission portfolios, and (iv) convey to policymakers the benefits of providing schools with funds, materials and flexibility for educational endeavours beyond the classroom.

Abstract Biological rhythms of nearly all animals on earth are synchronized with natural light and are aligned to day‐and‐night transitions. Here, we test the hypothesis that the lunar cycle affects the nocturnal flight activity of European Nightjars (Caprimulgus europaeus). We describe daily activity patterns of individuals from three different countries across a wide geographic area, during two discrete periods in the annual cycle. Although the sample size for two of our study sites is small, the results are clear in that on average individual flight activity was strongly correlated with both local variation in day length and with the lunar cycle. We highlight the species’ sensitivity to changes in ambient light and its flexibility to respond to such changes in different parts of the world.

Background In patients with out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest without ST‐segment elevation, immediate coronary angiography did not improve clinical outcomes when compared with delayed angiography in the COACT (Coronary Angiography After Cardiac Arrest) trial. Whether 1 of the 2 strategies has benefits in terms of health care resource use and costs is currently unknown. We assess the health care resource use and costs in patients with out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest. Methods and Results A total of 538 patients were randomly assigned to a strategy of either immediate or delayed coronary angiography. Detailed health care resource use and cost‐prices were collected from the initial hospital episode. A generalized linear model and a gamma distribution were performed. Generic quality of life was measured with the RAND‐36 and collected at 12‐month follow‐up. Overall total mean costs were similar between both groups (EUR 33 575±19 612 versus EUR 33 880±21 044; P=0.86). Generalized linear model: (β, 0.991; 95% CI, 0.894–1.099; P=0.86). Mean procedural costs (coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft) were higher in the immediate angiography group (EUR 4384±3447 versus EUR 3028±4220; P

Abstract To acquire a fundamental understanding of animal communication, continuous observations in a natural setting and at an individual level are required. Whereas the use of animal‐borne acoustic recorders in vocal studies remains challenging, light‐weight accelerometers can potentially register individuals’ vocal output when this coincides with body vibrations. We collected one‐dimensional accelerometer data using light‐weight tags on a free‐living, crepuscular bird species, the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). We developed a classification model to identify four behaviors (rest, sing, fly, and leap) from accelerometer data and, for the purpose of this study, validated the classification of song behavior. Male nightjars produce a distinctive “churring” song while they rest on a stationary song post. We expected churring to be associated with body vibrations (i.e., medium‐amplitude body acceleration), which we assumed would be easy to distinguish from resting (i.e., low‐amplitude body acceleration). We validated the classification of song behavior using simultaneous GPS tracking data (i.e., information on individuals’ movement and proximity to audio recorders) and vocal recordings from stationary audio recorders at known song posts of one tracked individual. Song activity was detected by the classification model with an accuracy of 92%. Beyond a threshold of 20 m from the audio recorders, only 8% of the classified song bouts were recorded. The duration of the detected song activity (i.e., acceleration data) was highly correlated with the duration of the simultaneously recorded song bouts (correlation coefficient = 0.87, N = 10, S = 21.7, p = .001). We show that accelerometer‐based identification of vocalizations could serve as a promising tool to study communication in free‐living, small‐sized birds and demonstrate possible limitations of audio recorders to investigate individual‐based variation in song behavior.