Variación espacio-temporal de la diversidad de escarabajos Geadephaga (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelidae) en el bosque seco tropical del Caribe colombiano / Spatio-temporal variation in the diversity of Geadephaga beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelidae), in the tropical dry forest of the Colombian Caribbean

Resumen Introducción: El uso de artrópodos en estudios ecológicos en el bosque seco tropical (Bs-T) de Colombia se centra mayormente en arañas, mariposas, hormigas y escarabajos coprófagos; por lo tanto, es necesario comprender como es la dinámica estacional de otros grupos como Geadephaga en este ecosistema. Objetivo: Evaluar la variación espacio-temporal y el efecto de las condiciones ambientales sobre la diversidad de las comunidades de Geadephaga en dos fragmentos de Bs-T en el Caribe colombiano. Métodos: El estudio se llevó a cabo en cuatro eventos de muestreo entre febrero y junio de 2018; cada uno con una duración de cuatro días y cuatro noches. En cada localidad (Reserva Campesina La Montaña = RCM y Reserva La Flecha = RLF), se marcaron cuatro estaciones distanciadas 350 m, con parcelas de 50×50 m. En el centro de cada parcela se instaló una trampa de luz, mientras que en los cuatro vértices se instalaron trampas de caída, y se realizó captura manual, cernido de hojarasca y perturbación de follaje. Resultados: Se capturó un total de 348 ejemplares de Carabidae y 114 de Cicindelidae. La riqueza y la abundancia presentaron los valores más bajos durante el período seco, mientras que los mayores valores se observaron durante el período de lluvias, en ambos fragmentos. Tetracha affinis (Dejean, 1825) fue la especie más abundante en la RCM durante el período lluvioso. Conclusiones: La variación de la riqueza y abundancia de Geadephaga responde a un patrón estacional en ambos fragmentos. Se encontró una amplia disimilitud entre las comunidades de Geadephaga de ambos fragmentos, pese a tener condiciones ambientales parecidas.

Abstract Introduction: The use of arthropods in ecological studies in the tropical dry forest (TDF) of Colombia focused mainly on spiders, butterflies, ants, and dung beetles; therefore, it is necessary to understand the seasonal dynamics of the other groups such as Geadephaga in this ecosystem. Objective: To evaluate the spatio-temporal variations and the effect of environmental conditions on the diversity of the Geadephaga communities in two TDF fragments in the Colombian Caribbean. Methods: This study was conducted during four sampling events between February and June 2018, each lasting four days, and four nights. Four sampling stations were selected in each locality (Reserva Campesina La Montaña = RCM and Reserva La Flecha = RLF), separated 350 m one from another, with square plots of 50 × 50 m. A light trap was installed in the center of each square, while pitfall traps were installed in the four vertices, and manual capture, beating sheets and leaf litter sieve were carried out. Results: A total of 348 Carabidae and 114 of Cicindelidae were captured. In both fragments, the richness and abundance presented the lowest values in dry season, while the highest values were observed during the rainy season. Tetracha affinis (Dejean, 1825) was the most abundant species in RCM during rainy season. Conclusions: The richness variation and abundance of Geadephaga corresponds to a seasonal pattern at both locations. A high dissimilarity between the communities of Geadephaga from the two fragments was found, despite having similar environmental conditions.

An analytical approach for identifying trend-seasonal components and detecting unexpected behaviour in psychological time-series.

The recent advances in technological capabilities have led to a massive production of time-series data and remarkable progress in longitudinal designs and analyses within psychological research. However, implementing time-series analysis can be challenging due to the various characteristics and complexities involved, as well as the need for statistical expertise. This paper introduces a statistical pipeline on time-series analysis for studying the changes in a single process over time at either a population or individual level, both retrospectively and prospectively. This is achieved through systemization and extension of existing modelling and inference techniques. This analytical approach enables practitioners not only to track but also to model and evaluate emerging trends and apparent seasonality. It also allows for the detection of unexpected events, quantifying their deviations from baseline and forecasting future values. Given that other discernible population- and individual-level changes in psychological and behavioural processes have not yet emerged, continued surveillance is warranted. A near real-time monitoring tool of time-series data could guide community psychological responses across multiple ecological levels, making it a valuable resource for field practitioners and psychologists. An empirical study is conducted to illustrate the implementation of the introduced analytical pipeline in practice and to demonstrate its capabilities.

Predictive Understanding of Stream Salinization in a Developed Watershed Using Machine Learning.

Stream salinization is a global issue, yet few models can provide reliable salinity estimates for unmonitored locations at the time scales required for ecological exposure assessments. Machine learning approaches are presented that use spatially limited high-frequency monitoring and spatially distributed discrete samples to estimate the daily stream-specific conductance across a watershed. We compare the predictive performance of space- and time-unaware Random Forest models and space- and time-aware Recurrent Graph Convolution Neural Network models (KGE: 0.67 and 0.64, respectively) and use explainable artificial intelligence methods to interpret model predictions and understand salinization drivers. These models are applied to the Delaware River Basin, a developed watershed with diverse land uses that experiences anthropogenic salinization from winter deicer applications. These models capture seasonality for the winter first flush of deicers, and the streams with elevated predictions correspond well with indicators of deicer application. This result suggests that these models can be used to identify potential salinity-impaired streams for winter best management practices. Daily salinity predictions are driven primarily by land cover (urbanization) trends that may represent anthropogenic salinization processes and weather at time scales up to three months. Such modeling approaches are likely transferable to other watersheds and can be applied to further understand salinization risks and drivers.

Seasonal detection of pathogens in honeybees kept in natural and laboratory conditions.

The honeybee is one of the most important pollinators in the world. The frequently observed poor health of honeybee colonies can be caused by various factors, e.g. environmental pollution, nutritional stress, and climate changes. Moreover, honeybees are constantly exposed to a wide spectrum of pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses. We examined the occurrence of various diseases in different-aged worker honeybees from two colonies kept in natural and laboratory conditions during spring, summer, and autumn in Poland. The honeybees were examined by PCR to detect infection with selected pathogens: Nosema ceranae, N. apis, N. bombi, Acarapis woodi, trypanosomatids, and neogregarines (Mattesia or Apicystis species) and by RT-PCR to identify deformed wing virus (DWV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), and acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV). DWV and N. ceranae turned out to be the dominant pathogens. Trypanosomatids and BQCV were also found in several samples. We did not detect the presence of the other pathogens: N. apis, N. bombi, A. woodi, neogregarines, or ABPV. As shown in the present study, the dynamics and occurrence of pathogens are influenced by keeping conditions, honeybee age, and seasonality.

Influence of tailing dust contamination in drinking water on the health status of goats in subtropical Regions.

The contamination of river systems by tailing dust remains a constraint to goat productivity in communal farming systems. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate how resource-limited households in subtropical regions assessed the effects of tailing dust contamination in drinking water on the health status of goats. In a study conducted in the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, 200 households from two villages were randomly selected and interviewed using a questionnaire. Forty-eight percent (n = 96) of the households were located in contaminated areas, while 52% (n = 104) were from uncontaminated areas. The study found that poor water quality, caused by tailing dust contamination, as well as a high incidence of diseases, were key factors affecting goat productivity. Water contamination was most severe during the hot and cool dry seasons. It was also noted that goats rely on freshwater as their primary source of supplemental water during dry seasons. Urine colour, oedema of the eyelids, and kid survival were indicators for assessing the health status of goats. Nominal binary logistic regression revealed that water contamination was 2.96 more likely to be reported by youth compared to elderly members. Farmers who received informal education were 37 times more likely to report contamination than those who received formal education. High kid mortality as a health status indicator was 50 times less likely to be reported in uncontaminated areas. Intervention strategies for reducing the adverse health effects of tailing dust in contaminated areas should focus primarily on the health of goats during dry seasons.

Distribution and in situ bioaccumulation test of radioecologically relevant metals in boreal freshwater sediments.

Sediments act as important sinks for metals and their radionuclides in aquatic environments and play a crucial role in their transfer and uptake to aquatic organisms. Traditional radioecological models use radionuclide concentrations in water to predict concentrations in aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated the distribution of radioecologically important metals (Ba, Co, Ni, Sr, U) among sediment, porewater and hypolimnion over seasons. We also studied the uptake of these metals to benthic organisms and importance of sediment as an uptake source by conducting a 28-day in situ bioaccumulation experiment with oligochaete worms (Lumbriculus variegatus). The studied metals were chosen based on common occurrence of their radioactive isotopes in nuclear fuel cycle. Measurements of total elemental concentration were used as proxies to study the behavior of specific radionuclides. Sediment and water samples were collected from two small lakes connected to a former uranium mine in Eastern Finland, and from a nearby reference lake connected to a different drainage area. Environmental characteristics and concentrations measured from sediment, porewater and overlying water indicated only minor changes between seasons. Measured metals were highly associated with sediment particles, rather than porewater or hypolimnion. Both the distribution of metals and in situ experiment indicated the importance of sediment as the main source of bioaccumulation. Significant differences in Ba, Ni and U concentrations between treatments containing contaminated sediment and reference sediment were noted, regardless of water concentrations. Additionally, as U contaminated lakes lacked seasonal overturn during our monitoring period, metal distribution and environmental conditions remained unchanged in deeper parts of those lakes. Lastly, the results of this in situ bioaccumulation experiment are in line with the findings of our previous laboratory study using sediments from these same lakes.

Influenza in travelers from Germany returning from abroad: a retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is the most common vaccine-preventable infection among travelers, affecting approximately one percent of those travelling to subtropical and tropical destinations. METHODS: We analysed demographic, travel-related and clinical information from travelers diagnosed with influenza at our travel clinic between January 2015 and March 2020 and influenza-negative controls. RESULTS: We included 68 travelers diagnosed with influenza and 207 controls. In total, 22.1% of influenza patients (n = 15) were older than 60 years and/or had comorbidities for which annual influenza vaccination is recommended, but only one had received an influenza vaccine. Patients with respiratory and musculoskeletal symptoms who presented during the German influenza season had the highest risk proportion of positive tests (54%, n = 25/46). Overall, three (4.4%) influenza patients were hospitalised, two (2.9%) received antiviral treatment, and eight (11.8%) received antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza occurs throughout the year in international travelers and can cause significant morbidity. Travelers with febrile illness should be tested for influenza, especially if they have respiratory or musculoskeletal symptoms, present during the local influenza season, or have travelled to South-East Asia. Influenza vaccination coverage among international travelers needs to be improved among high-risk individuals.

Seasonal variations in psychiatry outpatient service utilization in a tertiary health care center in subtropical arid regions of northwestern India.

Background: Research on climatic parameters contributing to psychiatric disorder seasonality is limited, particularly in subtropical, arid climates like Rajasthan, necessitating investigation into seasonal variations in psychiatric disorder incidence in the region. This study investigates seasonal variations in psychiatric disorder prevalence over 2 years at a Rajasthan tertiary healthcare center, aiming to uncover links with climatic factors. Aims: To investigate seasonal variations in the utilization of outpatient psychiatry services and elucidate potential determinants contributing to these temporal variations. Settings and Design: This is a hospital-based study. A retrospective chart review of all new patients who utilized psychiatry outpatient services from July 2021 to July 2023 was conducted. Methods and Material: Data were gathered from psychiatric outpatient records of adults (July 2021 to July 2023), diagnosed using ICD-10. Seasons were categorized: winter (November-January), spring (February-April), summer (May-July), and rainy (August-October). Meteorological data, temperature, and day length were obtained. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and Chi-square fitness, assessed seasonal associations with psychiatric disorders. Results: A total of 29,164 patient records were observed. Depression correlated with temperature and photoperiod. Mania peaked in August, linked to day length. Schizophrenia showed seasonal variation without environmental correlation. Anxiety peaked in March with no statistical significance. Obsessive compulsive disorder cases spiked in June, moderately correlated with temperature and photoperiod. Alcohol-related disorders peaked in December, while opioid dependence remained steady. Cannabis-induced psychosis peaked in summer, strongly correlated with temperature and day length. Headaches surged in August, positively correlated with temperature and day length. Conclusions: This study reveals complex relationships between seasonality, environmental factors, and psychiatric disorders, emphasizing their importance in mental health research and practice.

The seasonal occurrence of periodontitis - a retrospective cohort study from a practice-based research network.

OBJECTIVE: Many diseases are characterised by their seasonal appearance due to circannual changes in immune defence and a lifestyle that changes over the seasons. However, there is a lack of studies regarding the influence of seasonality on periodontitis. Therefore, the aim of this non-interventional, retrospective, observational study was to investigate the influence of seasonality on periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Periodontal parameters of 5,908 patients of a practice-based research network (PBRN) were analysed. Probing pocket depth (PPD), Bleeding on Probing (BOP) and tooth mobility were assessed for seasonal fluctuations. RESULTS: Within the PBRN patient data, seasonality was significantly associated with PPD of the individual months in patients with periodontitis. Pairwise comparison between the months showed significantly higher PPD in July compared to several months. PPD appeared significantly lower in December compared to June and November. Regarding season, the proportion of deep PPDs ([Formula: see text]6 mm) was significantly higher in summer compared to autumn (p = 0.024). Concerning BOP, a significant difference between winter and autumn could be observed (p = 0.016). No seasonal influence was found for tooth mobility. CONCLUSION: This practice-network based study indicated a tendency for seasonal variations in periodontal parameters among periodontal patients. However, the differences did not achieve clinical relevance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Regarding the seasonality of several diseases there might also be an influence of seasons on the periodontium, which would have a potential influence on periodontal studies and daily periodontal examination.

Seasonal environmental fluctuations alter the transcriptome dynamics of oocytes and granulosa cells in beef cows.

BACKGROUND: Examining the mechanistic cellular responses to heat stress could aid in addressing the increasing prevalence of decreased fertility due to elevated ambient temperatures. Here, we aimed to study the differential responses of oocytes and granulosa cells to thermal fluctuations due to seasonal differences. Dry beef cows (n = 10) were housed together, synchronized and subjected to a stimulation protocol to induce follicular growth before ovum pick-up (OPU). Two OPU's were conducted (summer and winter) to collect cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) and granulosa cells. In addition, rectal temperatures and circulating blood samples were collected during OPU. Oocytes were separated from the adherent cumulus cells, and granulosa cells were isolated from the collected OPU fluid. RNA was extracted from pools of oocytes and granulosa cells, followed by library preparation and RNA-sequencing. Blood samples were further processed for the isolation of plasma and leukocytes. The transcript abundance of HSP70 and HSP90 in leukocytes was evaluated using RT-qPCR, and plasma cortisol levels were evaluated by immunoassay. Environmental data were collected daily for three weeks before each OPU session. Data were analyzed using MIXED, Glimmix or GENMOD procedures of SAS, according to each variable distribution. RESULTS: Air temperatures (27.5 °C vs. 11.5 °C), average max air temperatures (33.7 °C vs. 16.9 °C), and temperature-humidity indexes, THI (79.16 vs. 53.39) were shown to contrast significantly comparing both the summer and winter seasons, respectively. Rectal temperatures (Summer: 39.2 ± 0.2 °C; Winter: 38.8 ± 0.2 °C) and leukocyte HSP70 transcript abundance (Summer: 4.18 ± 0.47 arbitrary units; Winter: 2.69 ± 0.66 arbitrary units) were shown to increase in the summer compared to the winter. No visual differences persisted in HSP90 transcript abundance in leukocytes and plasma cortisol concentrations during seasonal changes. Additionally, during the summer, 446 and 940 transcripts were up and downregulated in oocytes, while 1083 and 1126 transcripts were up and downregulated in the corresponding granulosa cells, respectively (Fold Change ≤ -2 or ≥ 2 and FDR ≤ 0.05). Downregulated transcripts in the oocytes were found to be involved in ECM-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, while the upregulated transcripts were involved in protein digestion and absorption, ABC transporters, and oocyte meiosis pathways. Downregulated transcripts in the granulosa cells were shown to be involved in cell adhesion molecules, chemokine signaling, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathways, while those upregulated transcripts were involved in protein processing and metabolic pathways. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, seasonal changes dramatically alter the gene expression profiles of oocytes and granulosa cells in beef cows, which may in part explain the seasonal discrepancies in pregnancy success rates during diverging climatic weather conditions.

Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in Norway: predominance of C. parvum and emergence of C. mortiferum.

PCR-based diagnostics has revealed the previously largely unknown Cryptosporidium transmission and infections in high-income countries. This study aimed to determine domestic and imported subtypes of Cryptosporidium species in Norway, evaluate their demographic distribution, and identify potential small outbreaks. Cryptosporidium-positive human faecal samples were obtained from six medical microbiology laboratories between February 2022 and January 2024, together with 22 Cryptosporidium-positive animal samples. Species and subtypes were identified by sequencing PCR products from gp60 and SSU rRNA genes. Most cryptosporidiosis cases occurred during late summer/early autumn, primarily in children and young adults. Of 550 human samples, 359 were successfully characterized molecularly (65%), revealing infection with 10 different Cryptosporidium species. C. parvum occurred in 245 (68%) human isolates with IIa and IId being major allele families, with distinct regional distribution patterns of common subtypes. A kindergarten outbreak with 5 cases was due to C. parvum IIaA14G1R1. C. mortiferum was identified in 33 (9.2%) human cases of which 24 were known to be of domestic origin, making it the second most common species in human autochthonous cases in Norway. All C. mortiferum isolates were of the same genotype; XIVaA20G2T1, including 13 cases from a suspected small outbreak in Trøndelag. C. hominis occurred in 68 typed cases (19%), but mostly in infections acquired abroad, with allele families Ib and If occurring most often. In conclusion, this study of recent Cryptosporidium spp. and subtypes in Norway, highlights the predominance of C. parvum and the emergence of C. mortiferum among autochthonous cases.

Seasonality analysis on cryopreserved doses from the autochthonous cattle breeds Asturiana de la Montaña and Asturiana de los Valles.

Germplasm banking is a fundamental tool for the preservation of autochthonous breeds. Semen cryopreservation is effective for this task, but protocols are adapted to commercial species, and post-thawing sperm quality could be sensitive to environmental cues. We compared the post-thawing sperm quality in doses from the CBA-SERIDA bank in northern Spain for the Asturiana de la Montaña (AM) and Asturiana de los Valles (AV) autochthonous cattle breeds. Doses from 23 AM and 16 AV bulls (ejaculates from at least three different seasons) were assessed for motility (computer-assisted sperm analysis), physiology and chromatin status (flow cytometry) after thawing and after 5 h at 38°C. Data were analysed using linear mixed-effects and cosinor models for seasonal and breed effects and by correlations with the association of sperm quality with temperature-humidity index (THI), considering the interval of spermatogenesis plus maturation. The breed affected sperm quality, with higher motility for AV and higher apoptotic ratio, mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species, DNA fragmentation and chromatin immaturity for AM. However, seasonality effects were minimal, and THI was not associated with sperm quality. In summary, the season seems to be a minor factor in the post-thawing quality of the AM and AV autochthonous breeds, well-adapted to their local environment.

Seasonal patterns of neurogenesis in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are region- and sex-specific.

Songbird vocal behavior, physiology, and brains-including neurogenesis-change between seasons. We examined seasonal differences in neurogenesis in three brain regions associated with vocal production and learning, HVC (letter-based proper name), robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA), and Area X, and two brain regions associated with auditory perception, caudomedial nidopallium (NCM) and caudomedial mesopallium (CMM). To do this, we captured wild male and female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in spring and fall, collected a blood sample, and minimized time from capture to tissue collection to limit suppressive effects of captivity on neurogenesis. We quantified neurogenesis using doublecortin (DCX) immunohistochemistry, counting new neurons of three DCX cell morphologies (multipolar, fusiform, and round). We found regional differences in types of morphologies expressed, and amount of neurogenesis across regions: NCM had more fusiform cells than all other regions, and RA had more round cells than other regions. Males had more neurogenesis in HVC in fall than in spring, but there was no seasonal difference in neurogenesis in HVC of females, perhaps reflecting sexually dimorphic vocal learning demands related to repertoire size and complexity. Plasma corticosterone was higher in spring than fall and was correlated with testis volume in males, but it was not correlated with another purported measure of stress, heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (HLR), nor with neurogenesis. Our results suggest that the addition of new neurons to specific regions and circuits may serve different functions for males and females, particularly in the context of vocal production, learning, and perceptual demands across seasons.

Analysing long-term spatiotemporal land surface phenology patterns over the Iberian Peninsula using 250 m MODIS EVI2 data.

Iberian Peninsula ecosystems are especially vulnerable to global warming, and variations in climate patterns may alter the wide variety of services they provide. Despite this, seasonal variations in Iberian ecosystems have been understudied. Thus, this study aims to characterise land surface phenology (LSP) patterns in the Iberian Peninsula over 21 years (2001-2021), considering three phenometrics: the start (SOS), the end (EOS), and the length of the growing season (LOS). These were estimated from 8-day image composites of EVI2 (Two-band Enhanced Vegetation Index), derived from the surface reflectance product MOD09Q1 at a 250-metre spatial resolution. Phenometrics and in-situ human phenological observations of plant phenophases were also compared. Pearson's correlation coefficient, p-value, and absolute differences between paired phenometrics and phenophases were calculated to quantify uncertainty between both phenological approaches. Generally, SOS and EOS dates were later in the Alpine and Atlantic biogeographic regions. SOS occurred in March-April and EOS between October-December. Natural vegetation land cover types had similar phenological dynamics, with SOS occurring between late winter and spring and EOS between autumn and early winter. However, phenometric dates were earlier in Mediterranean savannas, grasslands, and scrublands. Atlantic evergreen broadleaf vegetation showed the strongest correlations between SOS and the first (r = 0.96) and second (r = 0.68) leaf unfolding. In contrast, Mediterranean evergreen broadleaf vegetation had unclear correlations. Atlantic deciduous broadleaf vegetation showed a moderate correlation between SOS and first (r = 0.52) and second (r = 0.57) leaf unfolding. The correlation between SOS and the first (r = 0.14) and second (r = 0.13) leaf unfolding was weaker for Mediterranean deciduous broadleaf vegetation. EOS and autumn phenophases generally showed unclear consistency. Higher spatial resolution satellite data may improve the consistency between EOS and autumn phenophases in Iberian ecosystems, as well as between SOS and spring phenophases in heterogeneous Mediterranean ecosystems.

Impact of COVID-19 Nonpharmaceutical Interventions on Bordetella pertussis, Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza Virus, and Seasonal Coronavirus Antibody Levels: A Systematic Review.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were introduced to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2. This also resulted in a reduction of notifications of other acute respiratory infections and an altered seasonality when NPIs were lifted. Without circulation of pathogens, waning of antibodies is expected, which is a first indicator of decreased immunity. Here, by performing a systematic literature review, we investigated whether reduced antibody levels due to waning immunity contributed to the altered seasonality after NPIs were lifted. Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria and reported antibody levels or seroprevalence of human respiratory syncytial virus, seasonal human coronavirus, Bordetella pertussis, and influenza virus. We show that the COVID-19 pandemic most likely led to waning of pathogen-specific antibodies, with the strongest evidence for human respiratory syncytial virus and seasonal human coronavirus and with a larger decrease in children vs adults. Waning antibodies might have resulted in out-of-season activity for these pathogens.

Seasonal and genetic effects on lipid profiles of juvenile Atlantic salmon.

Seasonality can influence many physiological traits requiring optimal energetic capacity for life-history stage transitions. In Atlantic salmon, high-energy status is essential for the initiation of maturation. Earlier studies have linked a genomic region encoding vgll3 to maturation age, potentially mediated via body condition. Vgll3 has also been shown to act as an inhibitor of adipogenesis in mice. Here we investigate the influence of season and vgll3 genotypes associating with early (EE) and late (LL) maturation on lipid profiles in the muscle and liver of juvenile Atlantic salmon. We reared Atlantic salmon for two years from fertilization and sampled muscle and liver during the spring and autumn of the second year (at which time some males were sexually mature). We found no seasonal or genotype effect in the muscle lipid profiles of immature males or females. However, in the liver we detected a triacylglycerol enrichment and a genotype specific direction of change in membrane lipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, from spring to autumn. Specifically, from spring to autumn membrane lipid concentrations increased in vgll3*EE individuals but decreased in vgll3*LL individuals. This could be explained by 1) a seasonally more stable capacity of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions in vgll3*EE individuals compared to vgll3*LL individuals or 2) vgll3*LL individuals storing larger lipid droplets from spring to autumn in the liver compared to vgll3*EE individuals at the expense of ER capacity. This genotype specific seasonal direction of change in membrane lipid concentrations provides more indirect evidence of a potential mechanism linking vgll3 with lipid metabolism and storage.

Brain gene expression reveals pathways underlying nocturnal migratory restlessness.

Migration is one of the most extreme and energy demanding life history strategies to have evolved in the animal kingdom. In birds, champions of long-distance migrations, the seasonal emergence of the migratory phenotype is characterised by rapid physiological and metabolic remodelling, including substantial accumulation of fat stores and increases in nocturnality. The molecular underpinnings and brain adaptations to seasonal migrations remain poorly understood. Here, we exposed Common quails (Coturnix coturnix) to controlled changes in day length to simulate southward autumn migration, and then blocked the photoperiod until birds entered the non-migratory wintering phase. We first performed de novo RNA-Sequencing from selected brain samples (hypothalamus) collected from birds at a standardised time at night, either in a migratory state (when restlessness was highest and at their body mass peak), or in a non-migratory state and conducted differential gene expression and functional pathways analyses. We found that the migratory state was associated with up-regulation of a few, yet functionally well defined, gene expression networks implicated in fat trafficking, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Further analyses that focused on candidate genes (apolipoprotein H or APOH, lysosomal associated membrane protein-2 or LAMP2) from samples collected during the day or night across the entire study population suggested differences in the expression of these genes depending on the time of the day with the largest expression levels being found in the migratory birds sampled at night. We also found that expression of APOH was positively associated with levels of nocturnal activity in the migratory birds; such an association was absent within the non-migratory birds. Our results provide novel experimental evidence revealing that hypothalamic changes in expression of apolipoprotein pathways, which regulate the circulatory transport of lipids, are likely key regulatory activators of nocturnal migratory movements. Our study paves the way for performing deeper functional investigations on seasonal molecular remodelling underlying the development of the migratory phenotype.

Modeling the Effects of Temperature and Limiting Nutrients on the Competition of an Invasive Floating Plant, Pontederia crassipes, with Submersed Vegetation in a Shallow Lake.

The potential for a non-native plant species to invade a new habitat depends on broadscale factors such as climate, local factors such as nutrient availability, and the biotic community of the habitat into which the plant species is introduced. We developed a spatially explicit model to assess the risk of expansion of a floating invasive aquatic plant species (FAV), the water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes), an invader in the United States, beyond its present range. Our model used known data on growth rates and competition with a native submersed aquatic macrophyte (SAV). In particular, the model simulated an invasion into a habitat with a mean annual temperature different from its own growth optimum, in which we also simulated seasonal fluctuations in temperature. Twenty different nutrient concentrations and eight different temperature scenarios, with different mean annual amplitudes of seasonal temperature variation around the mean of the invaded habitat, were simulated. In each case, the ability of the water hyacinth to invade and either exclude or coexist with the native vegetation was determined. As the temperature pattern was changed from tropical towards increasingly cooler temperate levels, the competitive advantage shifted from the tropical FAV to the more temperate SAV, with a wide range in which coexistence occurred. High nutrient concentrations allowed the coexistence of FAV, even at cooler annual temperatures. But even at the highest nutrient concentrations in the model, the FAV was unlikely to persist under the current climates of latitudes in the Southeastern United States above that of Northern Alabama. This result may have some implications for where control efforts need to be concentrated.

Circulation and Seasonality of Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Patients during Five Consecutive Years (2019-2023) in Perugia, Italy.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the non-pharmacological interventions adopted to counter its spread appear to have led to changes in the normal circulation and seasonality of respiratory viruses. Our study aims to investigate changes related to the circulation of respiratory viruses, not SARS-CoV-2, among hospitalized patients in Perugia, Central Italy, between 2019 and 2023. The samples were collected from individuals who went to the emergency room (ER) or were hospitalized and analyzed using a molecular multiplex test. The results underline that non-pharmaceutical interventions altered the typical seasonal circulation patterns of different respiratory viruses. Those mostly affected were enveloped viruses like influenza viruses that disappeared in 2021; the least impact was recorded for Rhinovirus, which was detected during the pandemic period, maintaining the same seasonality observed in the pre-pandemic period although with a reduction in the number of positive samples. Our data underline the importance of the continuous monitoring of these viruses, especially to understand the timing with which prevention measures, not only non-pharmacological interventions but also the equipment of vaccine doses and monoclonal antibodies, should be adopted to reduce their circulation, particularly in the population at risk of developing severe forms of lower respiratory tract infection.