Modeling the impact of white-plague coral disease in climate change scenarios

Coral reefs are in global decline, with coral diseases increasing both in prevalence and in space, a situation that is expected only to worsen as future thermal stressors increase. Through intense surveillance, we have collected a unique and highly resolved dataset from the coral reef of Eilat (Israel, Red Sea), that documents the spatiotemporal dynamics of a White Plague Disease (WPD) outbreak over the course of a full season. Based on modern statistical methodologies, we develop a novel spatial epidemiological model that uses a maximum-likelihood procedure to fit the data and assess the transmission pattern of WPD. We link the model to sea surface temperature (SST) and test the possible effect of increasing temperatures on disease dynamics. Our results reveal that the likelihood of a susceptible coral to become infected is governed both by SST and by its spatial location relative to nearby infected corals. The model shows that the magnitude of WPD epidemics strongly depends on demographic circumstances; under one extreme, when recruitment is free-space regulated and coral density remains relatively constant, even an increase of only 0.5 degrees C in SST can cause epidemics to double in magnitude. In reality, however, the spatial nature of transmission can effectively protect the community, restricting the magnitude of annual epidemics. This is because the probability of susceptible corals to become infected is negatively associated with coral density. Based on our findings, we expect that infectious diseases having a significant spatial component, such as Red-Sea WPD, will never lead to a complete destruction of the coral community under increased thermal stress

Repeatable semantic reef-mapping through photogrammetry and label-augmentation

In an endeavor to study natural systems at multiple spatial and taxonomic resolutions, there is an urgent need for automated, high-throughput frameworks that can handle plethora of information. The coalescence of remote-sensing, computer-vision, and deep-learning elicits a new era in ecological research. However, in complex systems, such as marine-benthic habitats, key ecological processes still remain enigmatic due to the lack of cross-scale automated approaches (mms to kms) for community structure analysis. We address this gap by working towards scalable and comprehensive photogrammetric surveys, tackling the profound challenges of full semantic segmentation and 3D grid definition. Full semantic segmentation (where every pixel is classified) is extremely labour-intensive and difficult to achieve using manual labeling. We propose using label-augmentation, i.e., propagation of sparse manual labels, to accelerate the task of full segmentation of photomosaics. Photomosaics are synthetic images generated from a projected point-of-view of a 3D model. In the lack of navigation sensors (e.g., a diver-held camera), it is difficult to repeatably determine the slope-angle of a 3D map. We show this is especially important in complex topographical settings, prevalent in coral-reefs. Specifically, we evaluate our approach on benthic habitats, in three different environments in the challenging underwater domain. Our approach for label-augmentation shows human-level accuracy in full segmentation of photomosaics using labeling as sparse as 0.1%, evaluated on several ecological measures. Moreover, we found that grid definition using a leveler improves the consistency in community-metrics obtained due to occlusions and topology (angle and distance between objects), and that we were able to standardise the 3D transformation with two percent error in size measurements. By significantly easing the annotation process for full segmentation and standardizing the 3D grid definition we present a semantic mapping methodology enabling change-detection, which is practical, swift, and cost-effective. Our workflow enables repeatable surveys without permanent markers and specialized mapping gear, useful for research and monitoring, and our code is available online. Additionally, we release the Benthos data-set, fully manually labeled photomosaics from three oceanic environments with over 4500 segmented objects useful for research in computer-vision and marine ecology

Coral Disease Diagnostics: What's between a Plague and a Band?

Recently, reports of coral disease have increased significantly across the world's tropical oceans. Despite increasing efforts to understand the changing incidence of coral disease, very few primary pathogens have been identified, and most studies remain dependent on the external appearance of corals for diagnosis. Given this situation, our current understanding of coral disease and the progression and underlying causes thereof is very limited. In the present study, we use structural and microbial studies to differentiate different forms of black band disease: atypical black band disease and typical black band disease. Atypical black band diseased corals were infected with the black band disease microbial consortium yet did not show any of the typical external signs of black band disease based on macroscopic observations. In previous studies, these examples, here referred to as atypical black band disease, would have not been correctly diagnosed. We also differentiate white syndrome from white diseases on the basis of tissue structure and the presence/absence of microbial associates. White diseases are those with dense bacterial communities associated with lesions of symbiont loss and/or extensive necrosis of tissues, while white syndromes are characteristically bacterium free, with evidence for extensive programmed cell death/apoptosis associated with the lesion and the adjacent tissues. The pathology of coral disease as a whole requires further investigation. This study emphasizes the importance of going beyond the external macroscopic signs of coral disease for accurate disease diagnosis

Sexual Plasticity and Self-Fertilization in the Sea Anemone Aiptasia diaphana

Traits that influence reproductive success and contribute to reproductive isolation in animal and plant populations are a central focus of evolutionary biology. In the present study we used an experimental approach to demonstrate the occurrence of environmental effects on sexual and asexual reproduction, and provide evidence for sexual plasticity and inter-clonal fertilization in laboratory-cultured lines of the sea anemone Aiptasia diaphana. We showed that in A. diaphana, both asexual reproduction by pedal laceration, and sexual reproduction have seasonal components. The rate of pedal laceration was ten-fold higher under summer photoperiod and water temperature conditions than under winter conditions. The onset of gametogenesis coincided with the rising water temperatures occurring in spring, and spawning occurred under parameters that emulated summer photoperiod and temperature conditions. In addition, we showed that under laboratory conditions, asexually produced clones derived from a single founder individual exhibit sexual plasticity, resulting in the development of both male and female individuals. Moreover, a single female founder produced not only males and females but also hermaphrodite individuals. We further demonstrated that A. diaphana can fertilize within and between clone lines, producing swimming planula larvae. These diverse reproductive strategies may explain the species success as invader of artificial marine substrates. We suggest that these diverse reproductive strategies, together with their unique evolutionary position, make Aiptasia diaphana an excellent model for studying the evolution of sex

Lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to a vaginal leiomioma the female prostate: case report

This is a case report of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to a vaginal leiomioma “the female prostate”. A 45-year-old female patient with no significant personal history, sensation of a vaginal foreign body accompanied by lower urinary tract symptoms, on vaginal physical examination with a 7×7 cm deep tumor, increased consistency, not painful, without hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging with hypointense T1 and T2 images, few linear hyperintense areas in T2, homogeneous postgadolinium enhancement 69×66×53 mm, solid tumor dependent on the vaginal vault. Tumor markers CA 19-9: 5.98 U/ml, CEA: 1.09 ng/ml and CA 125: 11.73 U/ml. Open surgery was performed in which a 8×6 cm tumor was found in the vaginal vault dependent on the posterior wall of the vagina. Histopathological report: conventional leiomyoma measuring 9×7.5 cm in long axes, without nuclear atypia. With resolution of symptoms in the lower urinary tract, with normal urinary frequency, without presence of urgency, without urinary incontinence or voiding symptoms. It is important to identify and diagnose lower urinary tract symptoms always, since they could be an initial manifestation of pelvic tumors in which the treatment approach should not be delayed.

Female pelvic floor myofascial syndrome and its relationship with lower urinary tract storage symptoms

Background: Pelvic floor myofascial syndrome is defined as non-articular skeletal muscle pain, characterized by the presence of trigger points. Present in 14-23% of patients with chronic pelvic pain. It has an impact on urinary function. The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms is 15-67%, with storage symptoms predominating in patients with PFMS. Objective was to determine the relationship between female pelvic floor myofascial syndrome and lower urinary tract storage symptoms. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, homodemic and single-center study at University Hospital Doctor José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico from period one from April 1st to June 30th, 2022. Type of non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Database in Excel 2016, Pearson's Х² statistical test in the SPSS V25® program. Results: 136 patients with PFMS and LUTS storage were evaluated. The most frequent age group was 46-55 years with 33.1% (N=45); the marital status was married with 74.3% (N=101). In relation to education 55.9% (N=76) with a bachelor's degree. The most frequent storage symptoms were nocturia 67.6% (N=92) p<0.05, frequency 60.3% (N=82) p=0.512, urgency 57.4% p<0.005. Conclusions: Knowing the correlation between PFMS and storage LUTS can guide specific pain treatment with review of urinary symptoms. In patients with nocturia, frequency, urgency, SUI and UUI, a physical examination should be performed and included trigger points in the pelvic floor. Nocturia is the most prevalent storage LUTS in PFMS

Urethro-cutaneous fistula: a rare complication in anti-incontinence surgery with trans-obturator tapes sling

This case report presents a rare complication of tension-free mid-urethral tape surgery by the obturator approach (TOT) in the form of a urethro-cutaneous fistula. The patient underwent successful surgical repair, highlighting the importance of intraoperative cystoscopy to minimize surgical risks and complications. Tension-free mid-urethral tape surgery is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, complications can occur, albeit rarely. In this case, a 52-year-old female patient developed a urethro-cutaneous fistula following TOT surgery. The fistula was identified by the presence of urine leakage at the right inguinal level, leading to significant distress and discomfort for the patient. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial in such cases. The patient underwent surgical repair, which involved excision of the fistulous tract. The procedure was successful, resulting in complete resolution of the fistula and restoration of normal urinary function. In conclusion, this case report highlights the occurrence of a rare complication, namely a urethro-cutaneous fistula, following TOT surgery. The successful surgical repair emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and appropriate management. Furthermore, the authors propose that an intraoperative cystoscopic evaluation be considered, even after a TOT procedure. Especially in cases that present risk factors or in hospital-school institutions. By implementing this practice, surgeons can enhance patient safety and improve surgical outcomes in anti-incontinence procedures

Indicadores de Estrés en Respuesta a la Inyección Intramuscular de Oxitocina para Inducir la Eyección de Leche en Vacas Lecheras del Trópico Veracruzano

El objetivo fue determinar el efecto de la aplicación intramuscular de oxitocina para inducir la eyección de leche en indicadores de estrés y temperatura rectal en vacas ordeñadas mecánicamente en el trópico veracruzano. Se utilizaron vacas cruzadas (n=96) Suizo Americano-Cebú y Holstein-Cebú ordeñadas 2 veces al día. Las vacas después del parto se asignaron aleatoriamente de acuerdo al numero de partos a recibir 10 UI de oxitocina intramuscularmente (n=56) o NO ser inyectadas (n=40) al ordeñarlas. Durante el ordeño se observaron las siguientes variables: pisoteo, pateo, movimiento de la cola, dejar de comer, si se movió bruscamente y después del ordeño se tomó la temperatura rectal (TR). El análisis estadístico se realizó utilizando ANOVA y ji-cuadrada del software statistica 7. Las vacas inyectadas con oxitocina tuvieron un mayor (P=.05) porcentaje de animales que pisotearon y patearon (53%), dejaron de comer (61%), movieron la cola (71.4%) y se movieron (71.5%) comparadas con las vacas no inyectadas (10%, 0%, 3%, 3%, 6%, respectivamente). Las vacas inyectadas con oxitocina tuvieron una mayor temperatura rectal (39.13±.08 oC) y numero de pisoteos (2.62±.36) comparado con las vacas no inyectadas (38.96±.12 oC y .24±.54; respectivamente). En conclusión, las vacas inyectadas con oxitocina manifestaron elevados indicadores de estrés y temperatura rectal comparados con los de las vacas no inyectadas, sugiriendo que si existe una reacción de las vacas inyectadas intramusculares y rutinariamente con oxitocina y estas no se habitúan a la inyección

Pulse‐labeling studies of carbon cycling in Arctic tundra ecosystems: The contribution of photosynthates to methane emission

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94952/1/gbc790.pd