Identification of novel bat coronaviruses sheds light on the evolutionary origins of SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses.

Despite the discovery of animal coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2, the evolutionary origins of this virus are elusive. We describe a meta-transcriptomic study of 411 bat samples collected from a small geographical region in Yunnan province, China, between May 2019 and November 2020. We identified 24 full-length coronavirus genomes, including four novel SARS-CoV-2-related and three SARS-CoV-related viruses. Rhinolophus pusillus virus RpYN06 was the closest relative of SARS-CoV-2 in most of the genome, although it possessed a more divergent spike gene. The other three SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses carried a genetically distinct spike gene that could weakly bind to the hACE2 receptor in vitro. Ecological modeling predicted the co-existence of up to 23 Rhinolophus bat species, with the largest contiguous hotspots extending from South Laos and Vietnam to southern China. Our study highlights the remarkable diversity of bat coronaviruses at the local scale, including close relatives of both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV.

Plant root mechanisms and their effects on carbon and nutrient accumulation in desert ecosystems under changes in land use and climate.

Deserts represent key carbon reservoirs, yet as these systems are threatened this has implications for biodiversity and climate change. This review focuses on how these changes affect desert ecosystems, particularly plant root systems and their impact on carbon and mineral nutrient stocks. Desert plants have diverse root architectures shaped by water acquisition strategies, affecting plant biomass and overall carbon and nutrient stocks. Climate change can disrupt desert plant communities, with droughts impacting both shallow and deep-rooted plants as groundwater levels fluctuate. Vegetation management practices, like grazing, significantly influence plant communities, soil composition, root microorganisms, biomass, and nutrient stocks. Shallow-rooted plants are particularly susceptible to climate change and human interference. To safeguard desert ecosystems, understanding root architecture and deep soil layers is crucial. Implementing strategic management practices such as reducing grazing pressure, maintaining moderate harvesting levels, and adopting moderate fertilization can help preserve plant-soil systems. Employing socio-ecological approaches for community restoration enhances carbon and nutrient retention, limits desert expansion, and reduces CO2 emissions. This review underscores the importance of investigating belowground plant processes and their role in shaping desert landscapes, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of desert ecosystems.

Impact of aridity rise and arid lands expansion on carbon-storing capacity, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem services.

Drylands, comprising semi-arid, arid, and hyperarid regions, cover approximately 41% of the Earth's land surface and have expanded considerably in recent decades. Even under more optimistic scenarios, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2100, semi-arid lands may increase by up to 38%. This study provides an overview of the state-of-the-art regarding changing aridity in arid regions, with a specific focus on its effects on the accumulation and availability of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in plant-soil systems. Additionally, we summarized the impacts of rising aridity on biodiversity, service provisioning, and feedback effects on climate change across scales. The expansion of arid ecosystems is linked to a decline in C and nutrient stocks, plant community biomass and diversity, thereby diminishing the capacity for recovery and maintaining adequate water-use efficiency by plants and microbes. Prolonged drought led to a -3.3% reduction in soil organic carbon (SOC) content (based on 148 drought-manipulation studies), a -8.7% decrease in plant litter input, a -13.0% decline in absolute litter decomposition, and a -5.7% decrease in litter decomposition rate. Moreover, a substantial positive feedback loop with global warming exists, primarily due to increased albedo. The loss of critical ecosystem services, including food production capacity and water resources, poses a severe challenge to the inhabitants of these regions. Increased aridity reduces SOC, nutrient, and water content. Aridity expansion and intensification exacerbate socio-economic disparities between economically rich and least developed countries, with significant opportunities for improvement through substantial investments in infrastructure and technology. By 2100, half the world's landmass may become dryland, characterized by severe conditions marked by limited C, N, and P resources, water scarcity, and substantial loss of native species biodiversity. These conditions pose formidable challenges for maintaining essential services, impacting human well-being and raising complex global and regional socio-political challenges.

The behavioural costs of overcrowding for gregarious cave-dwelling bats.

Bats are known for their gregarious social behaviour, often congregating in caves and underground habitats, where they play a pivotal role in providing various ecosystem services. Studying bat behaviour remains an underexplored aspect of bat ecology and conservation despite its ecological importance. We explored the costs and impacts of overcrowding on bat social behaviour. This study examined variations in bat behavioural patterns between two distinct groups, aggregated and non-aggregated male Rousettus amplexicaudatus, within the Monfort Bat Cave Sanctuary on Mindanao Island, Philippines. We found significant variations in the incident frequencies of various bat behavioural activities, particularly aggression and movement, between these two groups. The increase in aggregation was closely related to negative social behaviour among bats. In contrast, sexual behaviour was significantly related to the positive behaviour of individual bats and was headed in less crowded areas. The disparities in bat behaviour with an apparent decline in bat social behaviour because of overcrowding, with more aggressive behaviours emerging, align with the 'behavioural sink' hypothesis. Our study underscores the importance of considering habitat quality and resource availability in the management and conservation of bat colonies, as these factors can reduce the occurrence of aggressive and negative social behaviours in colonies with high population density by providing alternative habitats.

Effective conservation of subterranean-roosting bats.

Bats frequently inhabit caves and other subterranean habitats and play a critical role in subterranean food webs. With escalating threats to subterranean ecosystems, identifying the most effective measures to protect subterranean-roosting bats is critical. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and management interventions for subterranean-roosting bats. We used network analyses to determine to what extent interventions for bats overlap those used for other subterranean taxa. We conducted our analyses with data extracted from 345 papers recommending a total of 910 conservation interventions. Gating of roost entrances was applied to preserve bat populations in 21 studies, but its effectiveness was unclear. Habitat restoration and disturbance reduction positively affected bat populations and bat behavior, respectively, in ≤4 studies. Decontamination was assessed in 2 studies and positively affected bat populations, particularly in studies focused on reducing fungal spores associated with white-nose syndrome in North America. Monitoring of bat populations as an effective conservation strategy was unclear and infrequently tested. Only 4% of bat studies simultaneously considered other subterranean organisms. However, effective interventions for bat conservation had similarities with all other organisms. If other subterranean organisms are considered when applying interventions to conserve bats, they might also benefit.

Conservación eficiente de murciélagos subterráneos Resumen Es común que los murciélagos habiten en cuevas y otros hábitats subterráneos y contribuyan a las redes alimenticias bajo tierra. Ya que estos ecosistemas cada vez se enfrentan a más amenazas, es importante identificar las medidas más efectivas para proteger a los murciélagos subterráneos. Realizamos un metaanálisis para evaluar la eficiencia de la conservación y las intervenciones de manejo para estos mamíferos. Usamos un análisis de redes para determinar el grado al que las intervenciones en pro de los murciélagos se traslapan con aquellas usadas para otros taxones subterráneos. Realizamos nuestros análisis con datos extraídos de 345 artículos que recomendaban 910 intervenciones de conservación. Se aplicó la colocación de compuertas en la entrada de los dormideros para conservar la población de murciélagos en 21 estudios, pero no quedó clara su efectividad. La restauración del hábitat y la reducción de las perturbaciones afectaron, respectivamente, a las poblaciones y al comportamiento de los murciélagos en ≤ 4 cuatro estudios. Se evaluó a la desinfección en dos estudios y ésta tuvo un efecto positivo sobre las poblaciones, particularmente en los estudios enfocados en la reducción de esporas micóticas asociadas con el síndrome de nariz blanca en América del Norte. La eficiencia del monitoreo de las poblaciones de murciélagos como una estrategia de conservación no fue clara y casi nunca se evaluó. Sólo el 4% de los estudios sobre murciélagos consideró simultáneamente a otros organismos subterráneos. Sin embargo, las intervenciones eficientes para la conservación de murciélagos tuvieron similitudes con las de todos los demás organismos. Otros organismos pueden beneficiarse si se les considera cuando se aplican las intervenciones para conservar a los murciélagos.

Combining different species in restoration is not always the right decision: Monocultures can provide higher ecological functions than intercropping in a desert ecosystem.

Vegetation restoration in deserts is challenging due to these ecosystems' inherent fragility and harsh environmental conditions. One approach for active restoration involves planting native species, which can accelerate the recovery of ecosystem functions. To ensure the effectiveness of this process, carefully selecting species for planting is crucial. Generally, it is expected that a more diverse mix of species in the plantation will lead to the recovery of a greater number of ecosystem functions, especially when the selected species have complementary niche traits that facilitate maximum cooperation and minimize competition among them. In this study, we evaluated the planting of two native species from the hyper-desert of Taklamakan, China, which exhibit marked morpho-physiological differences: a phreatophytic legume (Alhagi sparsifolia) and a halophytic non-legume (Karelinia caspia). These species were grown in both monoculture and intercrop communities. Monoculture of the legume resulted in the highest biomass accumulation. Intercropping improved several ecosystem functions in the 50 cm-upper soil, particularly those related to phosphorus (P), carbon (C), and sulfur (S) concentrations, as well as soil enzyme activities. However, it also increased soil sodium (Na+) concentration and pH. Halophyte monocultures enhanced ecological functions associated with nitrogen concentrations in the upper soil and with P, S, C, and cation concentrations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+), along with enzyme activities in the deep soil. It also maximized Na+ accumulation in plant biomass. In summary, we recommend legume monoculture when the primary goal is to optimize biomass accumulation. Conversely, halophyte monoculture is advisable when the objective is to extract sodium from the soil or enhance ecosystem functions in the deep soil. Intercropping the two species is recommended to maximize the ecosystem functions of the upper soil, provided there is no salinization risk. When planning restoration efforts in desert regions, it is essential to understand the impact of each species on ecosystem function and how complementary species behave when intercropped. However, these interactions are likely species- and system-specific, highlighting the need for more work to optimize solutions for different arid ecosystems.

Educating patients on osteoporosis and bone health: Can "ChatGPT" provide high-quality content?

PURPOSE: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) models like ChatGPT offers potential for varied applications, including patient education in healthcare. With gaps in osteoporosis and bone health knowledge and adherence to prevention and treatment, this study aims to evaluate the accuracy of ChatGPT in delivering evidence-based information related to osteoporosis. METHODS: Twenty of the most common frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to osteoporosis were subcategorized into diagnosis, diagnostic method, risk factors, and treatment and prevention. These FAQs were sourced online and inputted into ChatGPT-3.5. Three orthopedic surgeons and one advanced practice provider who routinely treat patients with fragility fractures independently reviewed the ChatGPT-generated answers, grading them on a scale from 0 (harmful) to 4 (excellent). Mean response accuracy scores were calculated. To compare the variance of the means across the four categories, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. RESULTS: ChatGPT displayed an overall mean accuracy score of 91%. Its responses were graded as "accurate requiring minimal clarification" or "excellent," with a mean response score ranging from 3.25 to 4. No answers were deemed inaccurate or harmful. No significant difference was observed in the means of responses across the defined categories. CONCLUSION: ChatGPT-3.5 provided high-quality educational content. It showcased a high degree of accuracy in addressing osteoporosis-related questions, aligning closely with expert opinions and current literature, with structured and inclusive answers. However, while AI models can enhance patient information accessibility, they should be used as an adjunct rather than a substitute for human expertise and clinical judgment.

Bringing precision medicine to the management of pregnancy in women with glucokinase-MODY: a study of diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of non-invasive prenatal testing.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: In pregnancies where the mother has glucokinase-MODY (GCK-MODY), fetal growth is determined by fetal genotype. When the fetus inherits a maternal pathogenic GCK variant, normal fetal growth is anticipated, and insulin treatment of maternal hyperglycaemia is not recommended. At present, fetal genotype is estimated from measurement of fetal abdominal circumference on ultrasound. Non-invasive prenatal testing of fetal GCK genotype (NIPT-GCK) using cell-free DNA in maternal blood has recently been developed. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of NIPT-GCK with that of ultrasound, and determine the feasibility of using NIPT-GCK to guide pregnancy management. METHODS: We studied an international cohort of pregnant women with hyperglycaemia due to GCK-MODY. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of NIPT-GCK with that of measurement of fetal abdominal circumference at 28 weeks' gestation (n=38) using a directly genotyped offspring sample as the reference standard. In a feasibility study, we assessed the time to result given to clinicians in 43 consecutive pregnancies affected by GCK-MODY between July 2019 and September 2021. RESULTS: In terms of diagnostic accuracy, NIPT-GCK was more sensitive and specific than ultrasound in predicting fetal genotype (sensitivity 100% and specificity 96% for NIPT-GCK vs sensitivity 53% and specificity 61% for fetal abdominal circumference 75th percentile). In terms of feasibility, a valid NIPT-GCK fetal genotype (≥95% probability) was reported in all 38 pregnancies with an amenable variant and repeated samples when needed. The median time to report was 5 weeks (IQR 3-8 weeks). For the 25 samples received before 20 weeks' gestation, results were reported at a median gestational age of 20 weeks (IQR 18-24), with 23/25 (92%) reported before 28 weeks. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Non-invasive prenatal testing of fetal genotype in GCK-MODY pregnancies is highly accurate and is capable of providing a result before the last trimester for most patients. This means that non-invasive prenatal testing of fetal genotype is the optimal approach to management of GCK-MODY pregnancies.

Does plant ecosystem thermoregulation occur? An extratropical assessment at different spatial and temporal scales.

To what degree plant ecosystems thermoregulate their canopy temperature (Tc ) is critical to assess ecosystems' metabolisms and resilience with climate change, but remains controversial, with opinions from no to moderate thermoregulation capability. With global datasets of Tc , air temperature (Ta ), and other environmental and biotic variables from FLUXNET and satellites, we tested the 'limited homeothermy' hypothesis (indicated by Tc & Ta regression slope < 1 or Tc < Ta around midday) across global extratropics, including temporal and spatial dimensions. Across daily to weekly and monthly timescales, over 80% of sites/ecosystems have slopes ≥1 or Tc > Ta around midday, rejecting the above hypothesis. For those sites unsupporting the hypothesis, their Tc -Ta difference (ΔT) exhibits considerable seasonality that shows negative, partial correlations with leaf area index, implying a certain degree of thermoregulation capability. Spatially, site-mean ΔT exhibits larger variations than the slope indicator, suggesting ΔT is a more sensitive indicator for detecting thermoregulatory differences across biomes. Furthermore, this large spatial-wide ΔT variation (0-6°C) is primarily explained by environmental variables (38%) and secondarily by biotic factors (15%). These results demonstrate diverse thermoregulation patterns across global extratropics, with most ecosystems negating the 'limited homeothermy' hypothesis, but their thermoregulation still occurs, implying that slope < 1 or Tc < Ta are not necessary conditions for plant thermoregulation.

Immune-mediated colitis associated with ocrelizumab: A new safety risk.

BACKGROUND: An association between certain immunomodulatory therapies (rituximab, ipilimumab, and other immune checkpoint inhibitors) and inflammatory (non-ischemic and non-infectious) colitis in oncologic and non-oncologic patient populations is well documented in the medical literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case series is to describe adverse event reports of new onset, inflammatory colitis in association with ocrelizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis submitted to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or published in the medical literature. METHODS: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and medical literature were searched. RESULTS: A review of postmarketing cases from FAERS and published medical literature identified 38 cases consistent with inflammatory, non-ischemic, and non-infectious colitis in association with ocrelizumab. The median time-to-onset was 8 months. Cases were reported using the following diagnostic terms: Crohn's disease (13), unspecified colitis (11), microscopic colitis (5), ulcerative colitis (5), medication-induced colitis (3), and autoimmune colitis (2). CONCLUSIONS: This case series highlights ocrelizumab induced immune-mediated colitis that can be clinically severe and potentially life-threatening. Based on the findings of this review, the ocrelizumab Prescribing Information was amended to include immune-mediated colitis in the Warnings and Precautions section.

Learning from perpetrator replacement to remove crime opportunities and prevent poaching of the Sundarbans tiger.

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is one of the leading causes of the decline in high-value species. Crime-reduction strategies to counter IWT can have unintended effects, with crime displacement occurring when offenders react to such interventions. Despite the value of understanding how and why displacement occurs for informing conservation strategies, few examples are published. We explored a case of perpetrator replacement following an intervention and drew lessons for conservation strategies for high-value species. Poaching and subsequent trade threaten the Sundarbans tiger (Panthera tigris). Pirate gangs were the dominant poachers from 1980 to 2017, but following an extensive campaign, the Sundarbans was declared pirate free in 2018. We interviewed 280 individuals, including 100 tiger poachers, from 26 administrative unions bordering the Sundarbans and used interviewee responses to compare the poaching situation during and after the pirate era. We analyzed the spatial distribution of tiger poachers among the unions and used crime script analysis of the dominant poacher type to identify intervention. Because pirates opportunistically poached tigers, the government's successful counter-pirate campaign inadvertently removed the dominant tiger poaching type. However, a temporary reduction in poaching was rapidly cancelled out by the emergence of at least 32 specialist tiger-poaching teams. With the risk of extortion and robbery from pirates gone, other groups increased the frequency of opportunistic and targeted tiger poaching. Based on expert interviews, we estimated that 341 tiger poachers of all types are active throughout the unions, with 79% of specialists concentrated in 27% of unions. The highly focused counter-pirate campaign reduced motivations and opportunities for piracy but left intact the opportunity structure and trade connections for tiger poaching, and with insufficient enforcement officers trading has flourished. Interventions targeting opportunities for poaching by specialist tiger poachers include heightened surveillance and reporting mechanisms and alternative livelihood provision to disincentivize poaching.

Aprendizaje a partir de la sustitución del infractor para eliminar las oportunidades de crimen y prevenir la caza furtiva del tigre de Sundarbans Resumen El mercado ilegal de fauna (MIF) es una de las principales causas de la declinación de especies importantes. Las estrategias de reducción de crímenes para contrarrestar el MIF pueden tener efectos no deseados, como el desplazamiento del crimen que ocurre cuando los infractores reaccionan a dichas intervenciones. A pesar de lo valioso que es para las estrategias de conservación entender cómo y por qué ocurre este desplazamiento, se publican pocos ejemplos. Exploramos un caso de sustitución del infractor después de una intervención sacamos lecciones para las estrategias de conservación de especies importantes. La caza furtiva y el mercado subsecuente son una amenaza para el tigre de Sundarbans (Panthera tigris). Los piratas fueron los cazadores dominantes entre 1980 y 2017, pero después de una campaña exhaustiva, el Sundarbans fue declarado libre de piratas en 2018. Entrevistamos a 280 individuos, incluidos 100 cazadores furtivos, de 26 uniones administrativas que rodean al Sundarbans y usamos sus respuestas para comparar la situación de la caza furtiva durante y después de los piratas. Analizamos la distribución espacial de los cazadores furtivos entre las uniones y usamos el análisis de escritura criminal del tipo dominante de cazador para identificar las intervenciones. Ya que los piratas eran cazadores furtivos oportunistas, la campaña exitosa del gobierno para contrarrestarlos eliminó sin saberlo el tipo dominante de caza furtiva. Sin embargo, una reducción temporal de la caza se canceló rápidamente con la emergencia de al menos 32 equipos especialistas en la cacería furtiva de los tigres. Sin el riesgo de la extorsión o robo por parte de los piratas, otros grupos incrementaron la frecuencia de la cacería oportunista y focalizada. Con base en las entrevistas a expertos, estimamos que 341 cazadores de tigres de todos los tipos están activos en las uniones, con 79% de los especialistas concentrados en 27% de las uniones. La campaña focalizada anti-piratas redujo las motivaciones y oportunidades de piratería, pero no afectó la estructura de oportunidades y conexiones mercantiles de la cacería furtiva de tigres, lo cual, sumado a la falta de suficientes agentes policiales, ha aumentado el mercado. Las intervenciones enfocadas en las oportunidades de cacería de los cazadores especialistas incluyen una mayor vigilancia y mecanismos de reporte y el suministro de sustentos alternativos para desalentar la cacería furtiva.

A Middle Eocene lowland humid subtropical "Shangri-La" ecosystem in central Tibet.

Tibet's ancient topography and its role in climatic and biotic evolution remain speculative due to a paucity of quantitative surface-height measurements through time and space, and sparse fossil records. However, newly discovered fossils from a present elevation of ∼4,850 m in central Tibet improve substantially our knowledge of the ancient Tibetan environment. The 70 plant fossil taxa so far recovered include the first occurrences of several modern Asian lineages and represent a Middle Eocene (∼47 Mya) humid subtropical ecosystem. The fossils not only record the diverse composition of the ancient Tibetan biota, but also allow us to constrain the Middle Eocene land surface height in central Tibet to ∼1,500 ± 900 m, and quantify the prevailing thermal and hydrological regime. This "Shangri-La"-like ecosystem experienced monsoon seasonality with a mean annual temperature of ∼19 °C, and frosts were rare. It contained few Gondwanan taxa, yet was compositionally similar to contemporaneous floras in both North America and Europe. Our discovery quantifies a key part of Tibetan Paleogene topography and climate, and highlights the importance of Tibet in regard to the origin of modern Asian plant species and the evolution of global biodiversity.

Stability, deformity, and fixation of the floating shoulder: a cadaveric biomechanical study.

BACKGROUND: Floating shoulder injuries cause instability and deformity due to disruptions of the scapula, clavicle, and superior shoulder suspensory complex ligaments (SSSC). Resulting deformity of the glenopolar angle (GPA) has not previously been established, nor has the impact on stability and deformity when surgical fixation is performed. This study sought to quantify stability and deformity for multiple injury patterns and the improvement to these parameters provided by clavicle and coracoclavicular (CC) ligament fixation. METHODS: Fourteen cadaveric specimen upper extremities were used, which included the entire upper extremity, scapula, clavicle, and cranial-most ribs. After being mounted upright, a scapular neck fracture was created, followed by either a midshaft clavicle fracture or sectioning of the acromioclavicular and coracoacromial ligaments. Subsequent sectioning of the other structure(s) followed by the CC ligaments was then performed. In all specimens, the clavicle was then plated, followed by a CC ligament repair. At each step, a radiograph in the AP plane of the scapula was taken to measure GPA and displacement of the glenoid fragment using radiopaque markers placed in the scapula. These radiographs were taken both unloaded and with a 100-N applied medializing force. RESULTS: When evaluating deformity related to sectioning, the GPA was reduced when the CC ligaments were sectioned compared to an isolated scapula fracture (P = .022) and compared to a combined scapula and clavicle fracture (P = .037). For stability, displacement with a 100-N force was significantly increased when the CC ligaments were sectioned compared to an isolated scapula fracture (P = .027). In cases of an ipsilateral scapula neck and clavicle fracture with intact ligaments, fixation of the clavicle alone provided a statistically significant improvement in the GPA (P = .002); but not in reduction of displacement (P = .061). In cases of an ipsilateral scapula neck and clavicle fracture with concomitant disruption of the coracoacromial, acromioclavicular, and CC ligaments, the GPA was improved by clavicle fixation (P < .001) and increasingly so by subsequent CC ligament repair (P < .001). Displacement was also improved in these 2 states (P < .001, P = .008, respectively). DISCUSSION: This biomechanical study confirmed the importance of the acromioclavicular, coracoacromial, and CC ligaments in conferring stability in SSSC injuries. Disruption of the CC ligaments created significant deformity of the GPA and instability with a medializing force. Clinical treatment should consider the integrity of these ligaments and their repair in conjunction with clavicle fixation, knowing that this combination should restore a biomechanical state equivalent to an isolated scapula fracture.

Determining the sustainability of legal wildlife trade.

Exploitation of wildlife represents one of the greatest threats to species survival according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Whilst detrimental impacts of illegal trade are well recognised, legal trade is often equated to being sustainable despite the lack of evidence or data in the majority of cases. We review the sustainability of wildlife trade, the adequacy of tools, safeguards, and frameworks to understand and regulate trade, and identify gaps in data that undermine our ability to truly understand the sustainability of trade. We provide 183 examples showing unsustainable trade in a broad range of taxonomic groups. In most cases, neither illegal nor legal trade are supported by rigorous evidence of sustainability, with the lack of data on export levels and population monitoring data precluding true assessments of species or population-level impacts. We propose a more precautionary approach to wildlife trade and monitoring that requires those who profit from trade to provide proof of sustainability. We then identify four core areas that must be strengthened to achieve this goal: (1) rigorous data collection and analyses of populations; (2) linking trade quotas to IUCN and international accords; (3) improved databases and compliance of trade; and (4) enhanced understanding of trade bans, market forces, and species substitutions. Enacting these core areas in regulatory frameworks, including CITES, is essential to the continued survival of many threatened species. There are no winners from unsustainable collection and trade: without sustainable management not only will species or populations become extinct, but communities dependent upon these species will lose livelihoods.

Assessing whether genetic scores explain extra variation in birthweight, when added to clinical and anthropometric measures.

BACKGROUND: Human birthweight is a complex, multifactorial trait. Maternal characteristics contribute to birthweight variation by influencing the intrauterine environment. Variation explained by genetic effects is also important, but their contributions have not been assessed alongside other key determinants. We aimed to investigate variance in birthweight explained by genetic scores in addition to easily-measurable clinical and anthropometric variables. METHODS: We analysed 549 European-ancestry parent-offspring trios from a UK community-based birth cohort. We investigated variance explained in birthweight (adjusted for sex and gestational age) in multivariable linear regression models including genetic scores, routinely-measured maternal characteristics, and parental anthropometric variables. We used R-Squared (R2) to estimate variance explained, adjusted R-squared (Adj-R2) to assess improvement in model fit from added predictors, and F-tests to compare nested models. RESULTS: Maternal and fetal genetic scores together explained 6.0% variance in birthweight. A model containing maternal age, weight, smoking, parity and 28-week fasting glucose explained 21.7% variance. Maternal genetic score explained additional variance when added to maternal characteristics (Adj-R2 = 0.233 vs Adj-R2 = 0.210, p < 0.001). Fetal genetic score improved variance explained (Adj-R2 = 0.264 vs 0.248, p < 0.001) when added to maternal characteristics and parental heights. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic scores account for variance explained in birthweight in addition to easily measurable clinical variables. Parental heights partially capture fetal genotype and its contribution to birthweight, but genetic scores explain additional variance. While the genetic contribution is modest, it is comparable to that of individual clinical characteristics such as parity, which suggests that genetics could be included in tools aiming to predict risk of high or low birthweights.

Two decades since the fetal insulin hypothesis: what have we learned from genetics?

In 1998 the fetal insulin hypothesis proposed that lower birthweight and adult-onset type 2 diabetes are two phenotypes of the same genotype. Since then, advances in research investigating the role of genetics affecting insulin secretion and action have furthered knowledge of fetal insulin-mediated growth and the biology of type 2 diabetes. In this review, we discuss the historical research context from which the fetal insulin hypothesis originated and consider the position of the hypothesis in light of recent evidence. In summary, there is now ample evidence to support the idea that variants of certain genes which result in impaired pancreatic beta cell function and reduced insulin secretion contribute to both lower birthweight and higher type 2 diabetes risk in later life when inherited by the fetus. There is also evidence to support genetic links between type 2 diabetes secondary to reduced insulin action and lower birthweight but this applies only to loci implicated in body fat distribution and not those influencing insulin resistance via obesity or lipid metabolism by the liver. Finally, we also consider how advances in genetics are being used to explore alternative hypotheses, namely the role of the maternal intrauterine environment, in the relationship between lower birthweight and adult cardiometabolic disease.

Identification of GCK-maturity-onset diabetes of the young in cases of neonatal hyperglycemia: A case series and review of clinical features.

Heterozygous mutations in GCK result in a persistent, mildly raised glucose from birth, but it is usually diagnosed in adulthood as maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), where hyperglycemia is often an incidental finding. The hyperglycemia of GCK-MODY is benign and does not require treatment, but is important to be aware of, particularly in females where it has implications for managing pregnancy. We present three cases of neonatal hyperglycemia resulting from a heterozygous mutation in GCK, illustrating its clinical presentation and evolution in early life. In summary, as with adults, neonatal hyperglycemia is an incidental finding, does not require treatment and has no adverse consequences for health. Neonates and their parents should be referred for genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis, avoid a label of diabetes and enable pregnancy counseling for females found to be affected.

Understanding and minimizing environmental impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) sets to create connections and build infrastructure across Eurasia, Asia, and parts of the African continent in its initial phase and is the largest infrastructure project of all time. Any infrastructure project on this scale will necessarily pass through ecofragile regions and key biodiversity areas (KBAs). This creates an imperative to identify possible areas of impact and probable effects on conservation values to facilitate adaptive planning and to mitigate, minimize, or avoid impacts. Using the highest resolution route maps of the BRI available, I overlaid the proposed road and rail routes on KBAs, protected areas, and predicted biodiversity hotspots for over 4138 animal and 7371 plant species. I also assessed the relationship between the proposed route with the distribution of mines across BRI countries and the proportion of deforestation and forest near routes. Infrastructure, especially mining, was clustered near the proposed route; thus, construction and development along the route may increase the size and number of mines. Up to 15% of KBAs were within 1 km of proposed railways. Thus, planned and probable development along the routes may pose a significant risk to biodiversity, especially because the majority of KBAs are unprotected. Many biodiversity hotspots for different taxa were near the route. These hotspots varied between taxa, making systematic management and environmental impact assessments an effective strategy for at least some taxa. A combination of planning and mitigation strategies will likely be necessary to protect the most important areas for biodiversity proximal to development, especially in currently unprotected KBAs and other regions that need protection. A fuller assessment of trade-offs between conservation and other values will be necessary to make good decisions for each project and site being developed, including potentially modifying parts of the route to minimize impacts. Modification or foregoing of infrastructure may be needed if stakeholders consider the conservation costs too high.

Conocimiento y Reducción de los Impactos Ambientales de la Iniciativa del Cinturón y Ruta Resumen La Iniciativa del Cinturón y Ruta (BRI, en inglés) de China busca crear conexiones y construir infraestructura a lo largo de Eurasia, Asia y partes del continente africano en su fase inicial y es el proyecto infraestructural más grande de todos los tiempos. Cualquier proyecto infraestructural a esta escala pasará obligatoriamente a través de regiones con fragilidad ecológica y áreas importantes para la biodiversidad (KBA, en inglés). Esto genera una necesidad por identificar las áreas de posible impacto y los efectos probables sobre los valores de conservación para facilitar la planeación adaptativa y mitigar, reducir o evitar los impactos. Usé los mapas de ruta de la BRI con la mayor resolución disponible para sobreponer las rutas propuestas de ferrocarriles y carreteras sobre las KBA, las áreas protegidas y los puntos calientes de biodiversidad pronosticados para más de 4138 especies de animales y 7371 especies de plantas. También evalué la relación entre la ruta propuesta con la distribución de minas a lo largo de los países en la BRI y la proporción de deforestación y bosques cerca de las rutas. La infraestructura, en especial la de minas, estuvo agrupada cerca de la ruta propuesta; por lo tanto, la construcción y el desarrollo a lo largo de la ruta podrían incrementar el tamaño y el número de minas. Hasta el 15% de las KBA estarían dentro de 1 km de distancia de las vías ferrocarrileras propuestas. Así, el desarrollo planeado y probable a lo largo de las rutas puede presentar un riesgo significativo para la biodiversidad, especialmente porque la mayoría de las KBA no está protegida. Muchos puntos calientes para la biodiversidad están cerca de la ruta. Estos puntos calientes variaron entre taxones, lo que hace que el manejo sistémico y las evaluaciones de impacto ambiental sean una estrategia efectiva para por lo menos algunos taxones. Una combinación de estrategias de planeación y mitigación probablemente será necesaria para proteger las áreas más importantes para la biodiversidad próximas al desarrollo, especialmente en las KBA que actualmente se encuentran sin protección y en otras regiones que requieren protección. Una evaluación más completa de compensaciones entre la conservación y otros valores será necesaria para tomar buenas decisiones para cada proyecto y sitio en desarrollo, incluyendo la potencial modificación de partes de la ruta para reducir los impactos. La modificación o renuncia a la infraestructura puede ser necesaria si los accionistas consideran que los costos de conservación son demasiado elevados.