Enhancing metabarcoding efficiency and ecological insights through integrated taxonomy and DNA reference barcoding: A case study on beach meiofauna

Molecular techniques like metabarcoding, while promising for exploring diversity of communities, are often impeded by the lack of reference DNA sequences available for taxonomic annotation. Our study explores the benefits of combining targeted DNA barcoding and morphological taxonomy to improve metabarcoding efficiency, using beach meiofauna as a case study. Beaches are globally important ecosystems and are inhabited by meiofauna, microscopic animals living in the interstitial space between the sand grains, which play a key role in coastal biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. However, research on meiofauna faces challenges due to limited taxonomic expertise and sparse sampling. We generated 775 new cytochrome c oxidase I DNA barcodes from meiofauna specimens collected along the Netherlands' west coast and combined them with the NCBI GenBank database. We analysed alpha and beta diversity in 561 metabarcoding samples from 24 North Sea beaches, a region extensively studied for meiofauna, using both the enriched reference database and the NCBI database without the additional reference barcodes. Our results show a 2.5-fold increase in sequence annotation and a doubling of species-level Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) identification when annotating the metabarcoding data with the enhanced database. Additionally, our analyses revealed a bell-shaped curve of OTU richness across the intertidal zone, aligning more closely with morphological analysis patterns, and more defined community dissimilarity patterns between supralittoral and intertidal sites. Our research highlights the importance of expanding molecular reference databases and combining morphological taxonomy with molecular techniques for biodiversity assessments, ultimately improving our understanding of coastal ecosystems

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception

Hydration Mechanism of Reactive and Passive Dicalcium Silicate Polymorphs from Molecular Simulations

Belite (C₂S, CCaO, SSiO₂) based cements are promising low-CO₂ substitutes of ordinary Portland cement. The main drawback is their low hydration rates, which makes them unpractical for construction. Yet more disconcerting is the different reactivity between polymorphs of belite: while β-C₂S reacts slowly with water, γ-C₂S is almost inert. Due to the demand of improving C₂S reactivity, in this work we aim to understand the hydration mechanism of belite polymorphs by density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations methods. We calculated the low-index cleavage energies, and the thermodynamic equilibrium structures were constructed through Wulff shape constructing method. We built the adsorption energy surface (AES) maps and found out the transition state structures for (chemi)­sorption of water molecules. Finally molecular dynamics were employed to simulate the reactions taking place during 2 ns at room temperature. We found that water dissociation consists of three steps, rotation, dissociation, and diffusion, with different energy barriers. Considering the AES, DFT energy barriers, and the molecular dynamics simulations, the number of reactive sites is the key aspect that controls hydration; even though water reacts preferentially in γ-C₂S surfaces over in β-C₂S in terms of energy, a considerably lower number of reactive points in γ-C₂S would limit the surface hydration and dissolution

Sambandet mellan psykisk ohälsa och hälsorelaterade levnadsvanor bland kvinnor och män i en skånsk befolkning

Bakgrund: Daglig rökning och låg fysisk aktivitet på fritiden är betydligt högre bland individer med psykisk ohälsa. Syfte: Att undersöka dessa samband i ett köns- och socioekonomiskt perspektiv, samt eventuellt finna bakomliggande orsaker. Metod: Använder data från en tvärsnittsstudie (Folkhälsoenkät, Skåne 2000) med en representativ population (n = 11 304) i åldern 18-65. Huvudvariabler är självrapporterad daglig rökning och låg fysisk aktivitet, samt psykisk ohälsa som bedöms via General Health Questionnaire-12. Analyser gjordes med logistisk regression för att få oddskvoter och kontrollera för möjliga confounders. Resultat: Samband finns mellan psykisk ohälsa och daglig rökning, respektive låg fysisk aktivitet bland båda könen, och bland socioekonomiska grupper. Kvinnor har signifikant lägre oddskvoter gällande båda sambanden. Individer med psykisk ohälsa har fler ofördelaktiga levnadsvanor än de med ej psykisk ohälsa, oavsett socioekonomisk status. Ingen signifikant skillnad upptäcktes mellan socioekonomiska grupper vid jämförelse av oddskvoter gällande låg fysisk aktivitet, bland kvinnor med ej psykisk ohälsa. Slutsatser: Studien har bekräftat sambandet psykisk ohälsa och daglig rökning, respektive låg fysisk aktivitet, bland båda könen och inom olika socioekonomiska grupper.Title: The relationship between mental ill-health and health related lifestyle habits among women and men in a scanian population Background: Daily smoking and low leisure time physical activity prevalence are higher among individuals with mental ill-health. Aim: To investigate these relationships in a gender- and socioeconomic perspective, together with possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Using data from a cross-sectional survey (Scania public health survey, 2000) with a representative sample (n = 11 304), aged 18-65. Included were selfreported daily smoking, low leisure time physical activity, and mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire-12. Logistic regression analyses were performed to get odds ratios (OR), and to adjust for potential confounding factors. Results: Daily smoking and low leisure time physical activity were found to be associated with mental ill-health, among both sexes. Women had significantly lower OR than men with regard to both relationships. Individuals with mental illhealth had more unfavourable lifestyle habits than individuals without, independently of socioeconomic status. There were no significant differences between socioeconomic groups when comparing OR for low leisure time physical activity among women without mental ill-health. Conclusions: This study confirms the relationships of mental ill-health and daily smoking, and low leisure time physical activity, among both sexes and within different socioeconomic groups. Key words: mental health; daily smoking; low leisure time physical activity; General Health Questionnaire-12; gender; socioeconomic status; etnicity; crosssectional study

8‑Functionalization of Alkyl-Substituted-3,8-Dimethyl BODIPYs by Knoevenagel Condensation

New 8-alkenylBODIPYs have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation between a series of alkyl-substituted-3,8-dimethylBODIPYs and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes. This is in clear contrast with literature precedents, which indicate that this reaction occurs exclusively on the methyl group at C-3. The change in hybridization of the carbon at the 8-position (from sp³ to sp²) determines the fluorescence emission of the BODIPY, while the presence of electron-donating or -withdrawing groups leads to intramolecular charge transfer processes

8‑Functionalization of Alkyl-Substituted-3,8-Dimethyl BODIPYs by Knoevenagel Condensation

New 8-alkenylBODIPYs have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation between a series of alkyl-substituted-3,8-dimethylBODIPYs and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes. This is in clear contrast with literature precedents, which indicate that this reaction occurs exclusively on the methyl group at C-3. The change in hybridization of the carbon at the 8-position (from sp³ to sp²) determines the fluorescence emission of the BODIPY, while the presence of electron-donating or -withdrawing groups leads to intramolecular charge transfer processes

8‑Functionalization of Alkyl-Substituted-3,8-Dimethyl BODIPYs by Knoevenagel Condensation

New 8-alkenylBODIPYs have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation between a series of alkyl-substituted-3,8-dimethylBODIPYs and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes. This is in clear contrast with literature precedents, which indicate that this reaction occurs exclusively on the methyl group at C-3. The change in hybridization of the carbon at the 8-position (from sp³ to sp²) determines the fluorescence emission of the BODIPY, while the presence of electron-donating or -withdrawing groups leads to intramolecular charge transfer processes

8‑Functionalization of Alkyl-Substituted-3,8-Dimethyl BODIPYs by Knoevenagel Condensation

New 8-alkenylBODIPYs have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation between a series of alkyl-substituted-3,8-dimethylBODIPYs and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes. This is in clear contrast with literature precedents, which indicate that this reaction occurs exclusively on the methyl group at C-3. The change in hybridization of the carbon at the 8-position (from sp³ to sp²) determines the fluorescence emission of the BODIPY, while the presence of electron-donating or -withdrawing groups leads to intramolecular charge transfer processes

8‑Functionalization of Alkyl-Substituted-3,8-Dimethyl BODIPYs by Knoevenagel Condensation

New 8-alkenylBODIPYs have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation between a series of alkyl-substituted-3,8-dimethylBODIPYs and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes. This is in clear contrast with literature precedents, which indicate that this reaction occurs exclusively on the methyl group at C-3. The change in hybridization of the carbon at the 8-position (from sp³ to sp²) determines the fluorescence emission of the BODIPY, while the presence of electron-donating or -withdrawing groups leads to intramolecular charge transfer processes

Comprehensive analysis of chromothripsis in 2,658 human cancers using whole-genome sequencing (vol 52, pg 331, 2020)

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