The Biology and Economics of Coral Growth

To protect natural coral reefs, it is of utmost importance to understand how the growth of the main reef-building organisms—the zooxanthellate scleractinian corals—is controlled. Understanding coral growth is also relevant for coral aquaculture, which is a rapidly developing business. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of factors that can influence the growth of zooxanthellate scleractinian corals, with particular emphasis on interactions between these factors. Furthermore, the kinetic principles underlying coral growth are discussed. The reviewed information is put into an economic perspective by making an estimation of the costs of coral aquaculture

Patent Foramen Ovale Closure or Anticoagulation vs. Antiplatelets after Stroke

BACKGROUND Trials of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to prevent recurrent stroke have been inconclusive. We investigated whether patients with cryptogenic stroke and echocardiographic features representing risk of stroke would benefit from PFO closure or anticoagulation, as compared with antiplatelet therapy. METHODS In a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial, we assigned, in a 1:1:1 ratio, patients 16 to 60 years of age who had had a recent stroke attributed to PFO, with an associated atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt, to transcatheter PFO closure plus long-term antiplatelet therapy (PFO closure group), antiplatelet therapy alone (antiplatelet-only group), or oral anticoagulation (anticoagulation group) (randomization group 1). Patients with contraindications to anticoagulants or to PFO closure were randomly assigned to the alternative noncontraindicated treatment or to antiplatelet therapy (randomization groups 2 and 3). The primary outcome was occurrence of stroke. The comparison of PFO closure plus antiplatelet therapy with antiplatelet therapy alone was performed with combined data from randomization groups 1 and 2, and the comparison of oral anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy alone was performed with combined data from randomization groups 1 and 3. RESULTS A total of 663 patients underwent randomization and were followed for a mean (+/- SD) of 5.3 +/- 2.0 years. In the analysis of randomization groups 1 and 2, no stroke occurred among the 238 patients in the PFO closure group, whereas stroke occurred in 14 of the 235 patients in the antiplatelet-only group (hazard ratio, 0.03; 95% confidence interval, 0 to 0.26; P<0.001). Procedural complications from PFO closure occurred in 14 patients (5.9%). The rate of atrial fibrillation was higher in the PFO closure group than in the antiplatelet-only group (4.6% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.02). The number of serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the treatment groups (P = 0.56). In the analysis of randomization groups 1 and 3, stroke occurred in 3 of 187 patients assigned to oral anticoagulants and in 7 of 174 patients assigned to antiplatelet therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS Among patients who had had a recent cryptogenic stroke attributed to PFO with an associated atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt, the rate of stroke recurrence was lower among those assigned to PFO closure combined with antiplatelet therapy than among those assigned to antiplatelet therapy alone. PFO closure was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation

Analysis of shared heritability in common disorders of the brain

ience, this issue p. eaap8757 Structured Abstract INTRODUCTION Brain disorders may exhibit shared symptoms and substantial epidemiological comorbidity, inciting debate about their etiologic overlap. However, detailed study of phenotypes with different ages of onset, severity, and presentation poses a considerable challenge. Recently developed heritability methods allow us to accurately measure correlation of genome-wide common variant risk between two phenotypes from pools of different individuals and assess how connected they, or at least their genetic risks, are on the genomic level. We used genome-wide association data for 265,218 patients and 784,643 control participants, as well as 17 phenotypes from a total of 1,191,588 individuals, to quantify the degree of overlap for genetic risk factors of 25 common brain disorders. RATIONALE Over the past century, the classification of brain disorders has evolved to reflect the medical and scientific communities' assessments of the presumed root causes of clinical phenomena such as behavioral change, loss of motor function, or alterations of consciousness. Directly observable phenomena (such as the presence of emboli, protein tangles, or unusual electrical activity patterns) generally define and separate neurological disorders from psychiatric disorders. Understanding the genetic underpinnings and categorical distinctions for brain disorders and related phenotypes may inform the search for their biological mechanisms. RESULTS Common variant risk for psychiatric disorders was shown to correlate significantly, especially among attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia. By contrast, neurological disorders appear more distinct from one another and from the psychiatric disorders, except for migraine, which was significantly correlated to ADHD, MDD, and Tourette syndrome. We demonstrate that, in the general population, the personality trait neuroticism is significantly correlated with almost every psychiatric disorder and migraine. We also identify significant genetic sharing between disorders and early life cognitive measures (e.g., years of education and college attainment) in the general population, demonstrating positive correlation with several psychiatric disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa and bipolar disorder) and negative correlation with several neurological phenotypes (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and ischemic stroke), even though the latter are considered to result from specific processes that occur later in life. Extensive simulations were also performed to inform how statistical power, diagnostic misclassification, and phenotypic heterogeneity influence genetic correlations. CONCLUSION The high degree of genetic correlation among many of the psychiatric disorders adds further evidence that their current clinical boundaries do not reflect distinct underlying pathogenic processes, at least on the genetic level. This suggests a deeply interconnected nature for psychiatric disorders, in contrast to neurological disorders, and underscores the need to refine psychiatric diagnostics. Genetically informed analyses may provide important "scaffolding" to support such restructuring of psychiatric nosology, which likely requires incorporating many levels of information. By contrast, we find limited evidence for widespread common genetic risk sharing among neurological disorders or across neurological and psychiatric disorders. We show that both psychiatric and neurological disorders have robust correlations with cognitive and personality measures. Further study is needed to evaluate whether overlapping genetic contributions to psychiatric pathology may influence treatment choices. Ultimately, such developments may pave the way toward reduced heterogeneity and improved diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Potassium and norepinephrine- or angiotensin–mediated pressor control in pre-hypertension

Potassium and norepinephrine- or angiotensin–mediated pressor control in pre-hypertension. Blood pressure (BP), plasma electrolytes, renin, aldosterone, angiotensin II (AII) or catecholamines, the chronotropic effects of intravenous isoproterenol, norepinephrine (NE) or AII, the pressor responses to NE or AII, and the relationship between plasma AII and aldosterone concentrations were studied before and after 10 days of dietary supplementation with potassium 100 mmol/day, in normotensive members of normotensive (N = 12) or hypertensive (N = 12) families, and 11 patients with borderline essential hypertension. Under control conditions, the pressor responsiveness to NE was significantly enhanced in normotensive with positive family history for hypertension and hypertensive subjects; the other variables were comparable in the groups. After potassium supplementation, plasma potassium, renin, aldosterone or AII, and the relationship between AII and aldosterone levels increased significantly, while body weight, plasma catecholamines, the chronotropic effects of isoproterenol, AII or NE, the pressor effects of AII and plasma clearance of AII or NE were unchanged in all groups. In normotensive members of hypertensive families and patients with hypertension, BP was decreased and the exaggerated pressor responsiveness to NE was normalized; these variables were not modified in normotensive members of normotensive families. These observations are consistent with a potassium-remediable disturbance in NE- but not AII-dependent regulation of BP in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension

Infraestructura básica, capital social y participación ciudadana : la experiencia del PROMEBA en el Barrio Humito de Paraná, Entre Ríos (2013-2015)

La infraestructura básica en la República Argentina en los últimos doce años del gobierno kirchnerista sin lugar a dudas ha representado una política de Estado extendida a lo largo y a lo ancho del país. La territorialización de los programas de infraestructura significó la puesta en escena de nuevas estrategias de abordaje desde el capital social y la participación ciudadana, temáticas que nos llevaron a reflexionar en torno a la importancia de pensar en esquemas participativos cada vez que intervenimos en el territorio. ¿Es una condición necesaria acompañar desde un esquema participativo el desarrollo de la infraestructura social? ¿La infraestructura por sí misma genera integración e identidad con el territorio? Esta tesis de maestría se propone analizar un estudio de caso particular de intervención, en el Barrio Humito, un barrio donde su población vive bajo condiciones de necesidades básicas insatisfechas, situado en la Ciudad de Paraná, provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina, entre los años 2013-2015. Nuestra pregunta de investigación se vincula a la influencia de la participación ciudadana de los actores locales (entendida esta desde la concepción del capital social) y cómo esa influencia se traduce en el desarrollo de la infraestructura básica implementada en este caso por el Programa de Mejoramiento de Barrios (PROMEBA). En ese sentido, definir la infraestructura desde la ciencia social nos permite pensar en algunos aportes que colaboren con la implementación de los programas de infraestructura social desde una perspectiva muy concreta y vinculada directamente con las necesidades de la gente en el territorio sumando, además, los aportes que se originan en el esquema: intervención, participación y conformación de redes (capital social). Para ello, la interdisciplinariedad y la visión compartida se ponen al servicio de este tipo de abordaje

TIM-1 defines a human regulatory B cell population that is altered in frequency and function in systemic sclerosis patients

Abstract Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by excessive production of extracellular matrix by fibroblasts on skin and internal organs. Although Th2 cells have been involved in fibroblast stimulation, hyperactivated B cells may also play an important role. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are cells capable of inhibiting inflammatory responses and controlling autoimmune diseases. Although many Breg populations have in common the ability to produce high amounts of IL-10, a unique surface marker defining most human Bregs is lacking. It has been described in mice that T cell Ig and mucin domain protein 1 (TIM-1) is an inclusive marker for Bregs, and that TIM-1+ B cells are able to prevent the development of autoimmunity. The aim of this work was to evaluate TIM-1 as a marker for human IL-10 + Bregs, and to determine whether TIM-1+ B cells are defective in SSc patients. Methods SSc patients (n\u2009=\u200939) and 53 healthy subjects were recruited. TIM-1 and IL-10 expression was assessed in resting or activated peripheral blood CD19 + B cells by flow cytometry. The regulatory function of TIM-1 + or activated B cells from SSc patients and healthy subjects was assessed in autologous and allogenic co-cultures with CD4 + T cells, where T cell proliferation and IFN-\u3b3, IL-17, TNF-\u3b1 and IL-4 production by T cells was measured by flow cytometry. Results TIM-1 and IL-10 were preferentially expressed in transitional B cells, but were upregulated in na\uefve and memory B cells upon stimulation. The frequency of transitional TIM-1 + IL-10 + B cells was significantly decreased in SSc patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, activated B cells from SSc patients induced stronger allogenic Th1 and Th2 responses than activated B cells from healthy controls. Finally, TIM-1 + B cells, including transitional and non-transitional cells, exhibited a higher CD4 + T cell suppressive ability than TIM-1 \u2212 B cells in healthy controls, but not in SSc patients. Conclusions TIM-1 is a unique marker for the identification of a human IL-10 + Breg ..

Que la force soit avec nous : analyse critique des outils pédagogiques déclinés dans le cadre d'une Unité d'Enseignement pour le développement d'une éthique de l'ingénieur

National audienceFaced with the challenges of the 21st century, the ethics of engineering requires the development of skills in collective intelligence and change management. Without pretending to answer all the questions and challenges adressed by ethics training practices, IMT Mines Alès has inaugurated, in 2021, a new Elective Teaching Unit entitled "Transitions and crises, issues at stake". This article aims to report on the pedagogical practices developed and implemented in the framework of this Teaching Unit. It proposes to step back on the impact of the pedagogical resources developed in support of learning. In particular, we address the question of the impact of the pedagogical choices and the role of pedagogical resources on learning. After describing the pedagogical practices used in this Teaching Unit, we detail the survey and evaluation system that enabled us to collect elements of self-evaluation regarding the acquisition of knowledge, know-how and interpersonal skills, as well as critical analyses of the pedagogical practices used. The exploitation of the results of this survey allows us to draw conclusions about the relevance of the pedagogical practices implemented and the pathways for improvement.Face aux enjeux du 21ème siècle, l’éthique de l’ingénieur passe notamment par le développement de compétences en intelligence collective et en conduite du changement. Sans toutefois vouloir répondre à l’ensemble des questionnements et des défis que posent les pratiques de la formation à l’éthique, IMT Mines Alès a inauguré, en 2021, une nouvelle Unité d’Enseignement Elective (UEE) intitulée : « Transitions et crises, enjeux en jeu ». Cet article a pour objectif de rendre compte des pratiques pédagogiques développées et mises en œuvre dans le cadre de cette UEE et de prendre du recul sur l’impact des ressources pédagogiques développées en support sur les apprentissages. Nous adressons en particulier la question de l’impact des parti-pris pédagogiques et du rôle des ressources pédagogiques mobilisées sur les apprentissages. Après avoir décrit les pratiques pédagogiques déclinées dans cette UEE, nous détaillons le dispositif d’enquête et d’évaluation qui nous a permis de recueillir, auprès des étudiants, d’une part, des éléments d’autoévaluation quant à l’acquisition de savoir, savoir-faire et savoir-être, puis, d’autre part, des analyses critiques des pratiques pédagogiques déclinées. L’exploitation des résultats de ce dispositif nous permet de tirer des conclusions quant à la pertinence des pratiques pédagogiques mises en œuvre et les pistes d’amélioration