The FLUXNET2015 dataset and the ONEFlux processing pipeline for eddy covariance data

The FLUXNET2015 dataset provides ecosystem-scale data on CO2, water, and energy exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere, and other meteorological and biological measurements, from 212 sites around the globe (over 1500 site-years, up to and including year 2014). These sites, independently managed and operated, voluntarily contributed their data to create global datasets. Data were quality controlled and processed using uniform methods, to improve consistency and intercomparability across sites. The dataset is already being used in a number of applications, including ecophysiology studies, remote sensing studies, and development of ecosystem and Earth system models. FLUXNET2015 includes derived-data products, such as gap-filled time series, ecosystem respiration and photosynthetic uptake estimates, estimation of uncertainties, and metadata about the measurements, presented for the first time in this paper. In addition, 206 of these sites are for the first time distributed under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) license. This paper details this enhanced dataset and the processing methods, now made available as open-source codes, making the dataset more accessible, transparent, and reproducible.Peer reviewe

What Happens Next? Syndemic Connections to Treatment for Substance Use among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Los Angeles, CA

BACKGROUND: Substance use drives worse HIV outcomes among men who have sex with men, while reducing substance use can improve physical and mental health. Despite this, there has been limited research on the outcomes that men who have sex with men experience in the community after they have exited treatment for substance use. This dissertation examines the factors that are associated with community-based men who have sex with men engaging with treatment for substance use, as well as the substance use and mental health outcomes that follow treatment.METHODS: This dissertation uses data from men who have sex with men participating in the mSTUDY cohort based in Los Angeles, CA (2014-2024). Chapter 2 examines the socioeconomic, substance use, and health factors that are associated with engaging with treatment for substance use. Chapter 3 assesses how treatment for substance use impacts reductions in the frequency of methamphetamine, cannabis, binge alcohol, and tobacco use over time. Chapter 4 examines the prevalence of high depression and anxiety symptoms in the time period after treatment for substance use, and analyzes the impact of 12-step group participation on mental health among men in recovery. RESULTS: Factors associated with treatment for substance use included homelessness, incarceration, methamphetamine use, and living with HIV. After adjusting for other factors, Black and Latinx men were less likely than white men to enter treatment for substance use during follow up. Treatment for substance use at different time points was associated with reduced frequency of methamphetamine and cannabis use, as well as increased high frequency binge alcohol use. Twelve-step group participation was associated with reduced frequency of methamphetamine, cannabis, and binge alcohol use. Men in recovery had worse depression and anxiety symptoms than men who had not received treatment, but 12-step participation was also associated with improved depression and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: These analyses found that factors that are known to be syndemic with the HIV epidemic are also associated with engagement in and outcomes following treatment for substance use. Community-based, equity-focused interventions to support men who have sex with men who use substances could improve quality of life in recovery

Bleeding Complications After Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair With the MitraClip

Bleeding after cardiac surgery or cardiovascular interventions is associated with worse patient outcome. Only very limited data are available on the subject of bleeding after percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (PMVR). We performed a single center analysis including 347 consecutive patients who underwent PMVR. Bleeding was defined according to the Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium (MVARC) end point definition. The incidence of MVARC bleeding was 21.6% (n = 75), whereas major MVARC bleeding (hemoglobin decrease >= 3 g/dl) occurred in 7.4% (n = 26). Only 33.3% of all bleeding cases were access site related. In multivariate regression analyses, independent predictors of MVARC bleeding were the presence of coronary artery disease (2.809, 95% CI 1.123 to 7.022, p = 0.027) and intervention duration (1.010, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.018, p = 0.010). Patients experiencing MVARC bleeding had longer hospital stays (p = 0.026); however, neither major nor extensive MVARC bleeding was associated with increased 30-day or 1-year mortality. A decrease in hemoglobin levels >= 3 g/dl without clinically visible bleeding sign not considered in the MVARC bleeding definition occurred in 9.5% of patients. A hemoglobin decrease of >= 4 g/dl had a strong association with worse survival in those patients with obscure bleeding. In conclusion, these data show a relevant incidence of bleeding after PMVR. In contrast to other cardiovascular interventions, the majority of bleedings were not access site-related. Particularly, patients with obscure bleeding, which are not included in the MVARC end point definitions, had worse outcomes and should therefore be considered for a more intensive workup. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The evolution of carbapenem resistance determinants and major epidemiological lineages among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in Germany, 2010-2019

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the molecular epidemiology and carbapenem resis-tance determinants in clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolates collected during four multicentre surveil-lance studies conducted by the Paul-Ehrlich-Society for Infection Therapy. Isolates were collected prospec-tively from hospital in-patients at 17 medical centres in Germany over four periods of three-to six -months starting in October of each of 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. Species identification was performed by MALDI-TOF, gyrB multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and detection of the intrinsic blaOXA-51-like gene. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by broth microdilution. The prevalence of carbapenemase-encoding genes was investigated by OXA-multiplex PCR and whole-genome sequencing. Molecular epidemiology was examined by rep-PCR and core-genome multi-locus sequence typing. A to-tal of 302 A. baumannii isolates were collected. Resistance to imipenem and/or meropenem was detected in 58 isolates (19.2%) from 14 centres. The proportion of carbapenem-resistant isolates increased from 21.3% in 2010 to 33.3% in 2013, and then decreased to 13.8% in 2016 and 12.3% in 2019. Forty-six of these isolates were associated with the international clonal lineage IC2 and five with IC1. The most prevalent carbapenemase gene detected was blaOXA-23-like (n = 51). Further carbapenem-resistance determinants were blaOXA-40-like (n = 1), blaOXA-58-like (n = 3) and blaNDM-1 (n = 2). In one isolate, ISAba1 was detected upstream of blaOXA-51-like. In conclusion, IC2 was the most prevalent clonal lineage detected in this study. Interestingly, in Germany, carbapenem resistance seems to have decreased in A. baumannii between 2013 and 2019.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd

A fresh look to the phenotype in mono-allelic likely pathogenic variants of the leptin and the leptin receptor gene

Leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) play a major role in energy homeostasis, metabolism, and reproductive function. While effects of biallelic likely pathogenic variants (-/-) on the phenotype are well characterized, effects of mono-allelic likely pathogenic variants (wt/-) in the LEP and LEPR gene on the phenotype compared to wild-type homozygosity (wt/wt) have not been systematically investigated. We identified in our systematic review 44 animal studies (15 on Lep, 29 on Lepr) and 39 studies in humans reporting on 130 mono-allelic likely pathogenic variant carriers with 20 distinct LEP variants and 108 heterozygous mono-allelic likely pathogenic variant carriers with 35 distinct LEPR variants. We found indications for a higher weight status in carriers of mono-allelic likely pathogenic variant in the leptin and in the leptin receptor gene compared to wt/wt, in both animal and human studies. In addition, animal studies showed higher body fat percentage in Lep and Lepr wt/- vs wt/wt. Animal studies provided indications for lower leptin levels in Lep wt/- vs. wt/wt and indications for higher leptin levels in Lepr wt/- vs wt/wt. Data on leptin levels in human studies was limited. Evidence for an impaired metabolism in mono-allelic likely pathogenic variants of the leptin and in leptin receptor gene was not conclusive (animal and human studies). Mono-allelic likely pathogenic variants in the leptin and in leptin receptor gene have phenotypic effects disposing to increased body weight and fat accumulation

Mutations in plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein cause severe syndromic protein-losing enteropathy

Background Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is characterised by gastrointestinal protein leakage due to loss of mucosal integrity or lymphatic abnormalities. PLE can manifest as congenital diarrhoea and should be differentiated from other congenital diarrhoeal disorders. Primary PLEs are genetically heterogeneous and the underlying genetic defects are currently emerging. Objectives We report an infant with fatal PLE for whom we aimed to uncover the underlying pathogenic mutation. Methods We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) for the index patient. Variants were classified based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. WES results and our detailed clinical description of the patient were compared with the literature. Results We discovered a novel homozygous stop mutation (c.988C>T, p.Q330*) in the Plasmalemma Vesicle-Associated Protein (PLVAP) gene in a newborn with fatal PLE, facial dysmorphism, and renal, ocular and cardiac anomalies. The Q330* mutation is predicted to result in complete loss of PLVAP protein expression leading to deletion of the diaphragms of endothelial fenestrae, resulting in plasma protein extravasation and PLE. Recently, another single homozygous stop mutation in PLVAP causing lethal PLE in an infant was reported. Conclusions Our findings validate PLVAP mutations as a cause of syndromic PLE. Prenatal anomalies, severe PLE and syndromic features may guide the diagnosis of this rare disease