Importance of overnight parameters to predict Sea Breeze on Long Island

The sea breeze is a phenomenon frequently impacting Long Island, New York, especially during the spring and early summer, when land surface temperatures can exceed ocean temperatures considerably. The sea breeze influences daily weather conditions by causing a shift in wind direction and speed, limiting the maximum temperature, and occasionally serving as a trigger for precipitation and thunderstorms. Advance prediction of the presence or absence of the sea breeze for a certain location on a given day would therefore be beneficial to weather forecasters. To forecast sea breeze occurrence based on the previous night's weather conditions, we used a novel algorithm called the $D$-Basis. We analyzed sea breeze data from a recent four year period (2017-2020) at a single weather station several miles inland from the coast. High or constant station pressure, high or constant dew point, and onshore wind from the previous night were found to be strong predictors of sea breeze formation the following day. The accuracy of the prediction was around 74\% for June 2020. Unlike other prediction methods which involve the comparison of sea surface and land surface temperatures in near real time, our prediction method is based on the parameters from the prior night, allowing it to potentially aid in advanced forecasting of the sea breeze.Comment: 17 Figures, 12 Table

Soil Microbial Dynamics and Biogeochemistry in Tropical Forests and Pastures, Southwestern Costa Rica

Tropical rain forest ecosystems are currently undergoing unprecedented rates of land conversion and land use change. Recent research suggests these activities profoundly influence nutrient cycling, but the principal mechanisms driving variation in nutrient status following land conversion are still not well understood. In this study, we used soils of varying fertility (oxisols and mollisols) in Costa Rica to investigate how conversion of tropical rain forest to cattle pasture affects the size and function of the microbial community, and to explore possible relationships between microbial dynamics and biogeochemistry. Our pasture sites are relatively lightly managed, and total pools of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) were not significantly different from their forest counterparts. However, pools of available elements were different; most notably, plant available forms of P were significantly lower in the oxisol pasture than in the oxisol forest site. In addition, we found that land conversion led to fundamental changes in the size and activity of the soil microbial community. Microbial biomass was consistently higher in forests than in pastures, particularly in the oxisol sites, where it was more than twice the pasture value. Forest sites were also characterized by a microbial community that was more active, responded more rapidly to carbon substrate additions, and showed strong seasonal variation. Our results provide evidence that changes in biogeochemical cycling following land conversion observed here and elsewhere may be directly related to changes in microbial community structure and function

Corticotropin-releasing hormone as the homeostatic rheostat of feto-maternal symbiosis and developmental programming In utero and neonatal life

A balanced interaction between the homeostatic mechanisms of mother and the devel- oping organism during pregnancy and in early neonatal life is essential in order to ensure optimal fetal development, ability to respond to various external and internal challenges, protection from adverse programming, and safeguard maternal care availability after parturition. In the majority of pregnancies, this relationship is highly effective resulting in successful outcomes. However, in a number of pathological settings, perturbations of the maternal homeostasis disrupt this symbiosis and initiate adaptive responses with unpre- dictable outcomes for the fetus or even the neonate. This may lead to development of pathological phenotypes arising from developmental reprogramming involving interaction of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental-driven pathways, sometimes with acute conse- quences (e.g., growth impairment) and sometimes delayed (e.g., enhanced susceptibility to disease) that last well into adulthood. Most of these adaptive mechanisms are activated and controlled by hormones of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis under the influ- ence of placental steroid and peptide hormones. In particular, the hypothalamic peptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a key role in feto-maternal communication by orchestrating and integrating a series of neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, and behavioral responses. CRH also regulates neural networks involved in maternal behavior and this determines efficiency of maternal care and neonate interactions. This review will summarize our current understanding of CRH actions during the perinatal period, focusing on the physiological roles for both mother and offspring and also how external challenges can alter CRH actions and potentially impact on fetus/neonate health

The effect of a low-calorie diet on depressive symptoms in individuals with overweight or obesity:A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies

Background Individuals with overweight or obesity are at a high risk for so-called 'atypical' or immunometabolic depression, with associated neurovegetative symptoms including overeating, fatigue, weight gain, and a poor metabolic profile evidenced e.g. by dyslipidemia or hyperglycemia. Research has generated preliminary evidence for a low-calorie diet (LCD) in reducing depressive symptoms. The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine this evidence to determine whether a LCD reduces depressive symptoms in people with overweight or obesity. Methods Eligible studies were identified through PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and PsycINFO until August 2023. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were derived using random-effects meta-analyses for (1) pre-post LCD comparisons of depression outcomes, and (2) LCD v. no-diet-control group comparisons of depression outcomes. Results A total of 25 studies were included in the pre-post meta-analysis, finding that depression scores were significantly lower following a LCD (SMD = -0.47), which was not significantly moderated by the addition of exercise or behavioral therapy as a non-diet adjunct. Meta-regressions indicated that a higher baseline BMI and greater weight reduction were associated with a greater reduction in depression scores. The intervention-control meta-analysis (n = 4) found that overweight or obese participants adhering to a LCD showed a nominally lower depression score compared with those given no intervention (SMD = -0.29). Conclusions There is evidence that LCDs may reduce depressive symptoms in people with overweight or obesity in the short term. Future well-controlled intervention studies, including a non-active control group, and longer-term follow-ups, are warranted in order to make more definitive conclusions.</p

A potential early clinical phenotype of necrotizing meningoencephalitis in genetically at‐risk pug dogs

Abstract Background Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) in the pug dogs is a fatal neuroinflammatory disease associated with rapid progression and poor response to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Diagnosis is typically made after severe neurological abnormalities have manifested. Hypothesis/Objective Pug dogs at genetic risk for NME might manifest neurological abnormalities before developing pathognomonic clinical signs of NME. Animals Thirty‐six pug dogs less than 4 years of age asymptomatic for NME. Methods Prospective observational cohort study with germline genome‐wide genotyping. Neurological examinations were performed 4 weeks apart to document reproducible findings of central nervous system disease. Magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and testing for infectious diseases were performed in all pugs with reproducible abnormalities detected on neurological examination. Results The overall risk allele frequency in this cohort was 40%; 5 (14%) dogs were high risk, 19 (53%) dogs were medium risk, and 12 (33%) dogs were low genetic risk for NME. Reproducible abnormalities detected on neurological examination were identified in 8/24 (33%) genetically at‐risk dogs and 0/12 (0%) low risk dogs. Clinical abnormalities included multifocal spinal pain in 8/8, reduced menace response in 5/8, and lateralizing postural reaction deficits in 5/8 pugs. There was a strong association between genotype risk and the presence of this clinical phenotype (P = .03). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Our findings suggest the presence of a novel early clinical phenotype of NME in apparently asymptomatic genetically at‐risk pugs which might be used to plan early diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trials

King-Devick Sensitivity and Specificity to Concussion in Collegiate Athletes.

CONTEXT: The King-Devick (K-D) test is used to identify oculomotor impairment after concussion. However, the diagnostic accuracy of the K-D test over time has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To (1) examine the sensitivity and specificity of the K-D test at 0 to 6 hours postinjury, 24 to 48 hours postinjury, the beginning of a return-to-play (RTP) protocol (asymptomatic), unrestricted RTP, and 6 months postconcussion and (2) compare outcomes between athletes with and those without concussion across confounding factors (sex, age, sport contact level, academic year, learning disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, migraine history, concussion history, and test administration mode). DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional design. SETTING: Multiple institutions in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 320 athletes with a concussion (162 men, 158 women; age = 19.80 ± 1.41 years) were compared with 1239 total collegiate athletes without a concussion (646 men, 593 women; age = 20.31 ± 1.18 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We calculated the K-D test time difference (in seconds) by subtracting the baseline from the most recent time. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy across time points. We identified cutoff scores and corresponding specificity at both the 80% and 70% sensitivity levels. We repeated ROC with AUC analyses using confounding factors. RESULTS: The K-D test predicted positive results at the 0- to 6-hour (AUC = 0.724, P &lt; .001), 24- to 48-hour (AUC = 0.701, P &lt; .001), RTP (AUC = 0.640, P &lt; .001), and 6-month postconcussion (AUC = 0.615, P &lt; .001) tim points but not at the asymptomatic time point (AUC = 0.513, P = .497). The 0- to 6-hour and 24- to 48-hour time points yielded 80% sensitivity cutoff scores of -2.6 and -3.2 seconds (ie, faster), respectively, but 46% and 41% specificity, respectively. The K-D test had a better AUC when administered using an iPad (AUC = 0.800, 95% CI = 0.747, 0.854) compared with the spiral-bound card system (AUC = 0.646, 95% CI = 0.600, 0.692; P &lt; .001). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic accuracy of the K-D test was greatest at 0 to 6 hours and 24 to 48 hours postconcussion but declined across subsequent postconcussion time points. The AUCs did not differentiate between groups across confounding factors. Our negative cutoff scores indicated that practice effects contributed to improved performance, requiring athletes to outperform their baseline scores

Reprogramming tumour-associated macrophages to outcompete cancer cells

: In metazoan organisms, cell competition acts as a quality control mechanism to eliminate unfit cells in favour of their more robust neighbours1,2. This mechanism has the potential to be maladapted, promoting the selection of aggressive cancer cells3-6. Tumours are metabolically active and are populated by stroma cells7,8, but how environmental factors affect cancer cell competition remains largely unknown. Here we show that tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) can be dietarily or genetically reprogrammed to outcompete MYC-overexpressing cancer cells. In a mouse model of breast cancer, MYC overexpression resulted in an mTORC1-dependent 'winner' cancer cell state. A low-protein diet inhibited mTORC1 signalling in cancer cells and reduced tumour growth, owing unexpectedly to activation of the transcription factors TFEB and TFE3 and mTORC1 in TAMs. Diet-derived cytosolic amino acids are sensed by Rag GTPases through the GTPase-activating proteins GATOR1 and FLCN to control Rag GTPase effectors including TFEB and TFE39-14. Depletion of GATOR1 in TAMs suppressed the activation of TFEB, TFE3 and mTORC1 under the low-protein diet condition, causing accelerated tumour growth; conversely, depletion of FLCN or Rag GTPases in TAMs activated TFEB, TFE3 and mTORC1 under the normal protein diet condition, causing decelerated tumour growth. Furthermore, mTORC1 hyperactivation in TAMs and cancer cells and their competitive fitness were dependent on the endolysosomal engulfment regulator PIKfyve. Thus, noncanonical engulfment-mediated Rag GTPase-independent mTORC1 signalling in TAMs controls competition between TAMs and cancer cells, which defines a novel innate immune tumour suppression pathway that could be targeted for cancer therapy

Human whole-exome genotype data for Alzheimer’s disease

The heterogeneity of the whole-exome sequencing (WES) data generation methods present a challenge to a joint analysis. Here we present a bioinformatics strategy for joint-calling 20,504 WES samples collected across nine studies and sequenced using ten capture kits in fourteen sequencing centers in the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project. The joint-genotype called variant-called format (VCF) file contains only positions within the union of capture kits. The VCF was then processed specifically to account for the batch effects arising from the use of different capture kits from different studies. We identified 8.2 million autosomal variants. 96.82% of the variants are high-quality, and are located in 28,579 Ensembl transcripts. 41% of the variants are intronic and 1.8% of the variants are with CADD &gt; 30, indicating they are of high predicted pathogenicity. Here we show our new strategy can generate high-quality data from processing these diversely generated WES samples. The improved ability to combine data sequenced in different batches benefits the whole genomics research community.</p