Oxidative stress affects sperm health and fertility-Time to apply facts learned at the bench to help the patient: Lessons for busy clinicians.

Background: Increased oxidative stress (OS), resulting from the delicate balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defense, is closely linked to sperm abnormalities and male subfertility. Elevated ROS levels particularly affect sperm quality. The vulnerability of spermatozoa to ROS is due to the absence of DNA repair mechanisms and the high presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their membranes. Methods: This article updates and advances our understanding of the molecular damage caused by OS in spermatozoa, including lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, motility, and functionality. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges in diagnosing OS in semen and recommends accurate and sensitive testing methods. Case studies are utilized to demonstrate the effective management of male infertility caused by OS. Main findings: Highlighting the need to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, this review suggests strategies for clinicians, such as lifestyle and dietary changes and antioxidant therapies. The review emphasizes lifestyle modifications and personalized care as effective strategies in managing male infertility caused by OS. Conclusion: This review calls for early detection and intervention and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient care in male infertility cases related to increased OS.

Novel combination with maca improves sperm parameters in vitro of asthenozoospermic men.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is an inability to conceive after a reasonable period of time (12 months) without the use of contraception or due to a person's incapacity to procreate, whether independently or with a spouse. Problems with the production and maturation of sperm are the most common causes of male infertility additionally; the motility is the major functional character that determines the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. Therefore the goal of this study is to get better certain sperm function parameters in vitro of asthenozoospermic patient. OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization (WHO) and many studies considered the infertility as a disease and so many couples complaining from unsuccessful assisted reproductive technologies (ART) procedures to overcome their problem. The goal of this study is to improve certain sperm function feature in vitro of asthenozoospermic semen patients by using combination of motility inducing namely; Maca, L-carnitine and Pentoxifylline that enhance the medium to improve certain sperm characters that might be utilized for ART centers. METHODOLOGY: Semen aliquots were collected from ninety patients with asthenozoospermia who participated in present study, the volume of semen samples with normal ejaculate when was ranged between 1.4-6ml and can be measured by using a measure pipette or conical graduated tube; Inclusion criteria was Asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia and teratozoospermia men, Infertile idiopathic men also, fertile normozoospermic men. While Exclusion criteria was Azoospermic men, Alcoholic, Patients under treatment with antibiotics and men with Varicocele. The samples split into two equal groups at random. Using Ham's F12 medium, one portion served as the control group, and the other was the treatment group, which was mixing by combining the following ingredients, Maca powder extracts (Lepidium meyenii) (M) 1 mg/ml, 0.5 mg/ml of L-Carnitine (LC), and 10 mg/ml of Pentoxifylline (PTX). The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The descriptive statistics including frequency, range, mean and standard error, Data from treated and control groups were expressed as mean ± SEM and to compare value between experimental and control groups using Students t-test. Layering approach is used to investigate sperm parameters before and after in vitro activation. RESULTS: The information showed a very large (p< 0.001) increase in active sperm motility grade A, percentage of progressive motility with significant increase in morphologically normal sperm (MNS) with decreased in DNA fragmentation index after activation by layering technique with novel combination medium compared to Hams F12 medium and before activation. CONCLUSION: The present work stated that novel combination medium (LC, maca and PXT) have potential effects to improve sperm characters in male infertility factors and suggested to be used for sperm preparation and activation in ART programs.

Effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on the cumulative live birth rate in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment.

BACKGROUND: Sperm DNA fragmentation testing is a valuable tool for predicting male infertility independent of routine semen analysis. However, it remains unclear whether sperm DNA fragmentation affects in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes, especially their live birth rates. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sperm DNA fragmentation on the cumulative live birth rates over 1 year of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study included 5050 couples who had undergone in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment from 2016 to 2022. These patients were divided into four groups according to their sperm DNA fragmentation percentages (group 1: sperm DNA fragmentation ≤10%, group 2: > 10% to ≤20%, group3: > 20% to ≤30%, and group 4: > 30%) determined using the sperm chromatin dispersion assay. Both conservative and optimistic methods were used for estimating cumulative live birth rates, the primary outcome, was defined as an ongoing pregnancy leading to live birth that had arisen from all embryo transfers performed within 1 year following the first ovum pick-up. RESULTS: The conservative and optimistic cumulative live birth rates showed no significant differences between sperm DNA fragmentation groups when total patients or in vitro fertilization patients were analyzed while adjusting for the confounders. However, compared with those in the group with low sperm DNA fragmentation values (≤10%), the conservative cumulative live birth rate was significantly decreased in intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients in the group with sperm DNA fragmentation > 30%, and the optimistic cumulative live birth rates were significantly decreased in intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients in the three groups with high sperm DNA fragmentation values (> 10% to ≤20%, > 20% to ≤30%, > 30%). These results were further confirmed by the analyses of smooth curves generated by generalized additive models. In intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients, the cumulative live birth rates decreased significantly as the sperm DNA fragmentation increased (p = 0.034), and these effects were stronger with the increase in female age. A similar pattern of correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation and cumulative live birth rate was found in in vitro fertilization patients, but the correlation was not significant (p = 0.232). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Sperm DNA fragmentation has a significant effect on the cumulative probability of achieving a live birth during 1 year of treatment involving intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

A semi-automated workflow for DIA-based global discovery to pathway-driven PRM analysis.

Targeted proteomics, which includes parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), is typically utilized for more precise detection and quantitation of key proteins and/or pathways derived from complex discovery proteomics datasets. Initial discovery-based analysis using data independent acquisition (DIA) can obtain deep proteome coverage with low data missingness while targeted PRM assays can provide additional benefits in further eliminating missing data and optimizing measurement precision. However, PRM method development from bioinformatic predictions can be tedious and time-consuming because of the DIA output complexity. We address this limitation with a Python script that rapidly generates a PRM method for the TIMS-TOF platform using DIA data and a user-defined target list. To evaluate the script, DIA data obtained from HeLa cell lysate (200 ng, 45-min gradient method) as well as canonical pathway information from Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was utilized to generate a pathway-driven PRM method. Subsequent PRM analysis of targets within the example pathway, regulation of apoptosis, resulted in improved chromatographic data and enhanced quantitation precision (100% peptides below 10% CV with a median CV of 2.9%, n = 3 technical replicates). The script is freely available at https://github.com/StevensOmicsLab/PRM-script and provides a framework that can be adapted to multiple DDA/DIA data outputs and instrument-specific PRM method types.

Quantitative analysis of microplastics in beach sand via low-temperature solvent extraction and thermal degradation: Effects of particle size and sample depth.

Quantifying trace levels of microplastics in complex environmental media remains a challenge. In this study, an approach combining field collection of samples from different depths, sample size fractionation, and plastic quantification via pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was employed to identify and quantify microplastics at two public beaches along the northeast coast of the U.S. (Salisbury beach, MA and Hampton beach, NH). A simple sampling tool was used to collect beach sand from depth intervals of 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm, respectively. The samples were sieved to give three size fractions: coarse (>1.2 mm), intermediate (100 µm-1.2 mm), and fine (1.2 µm-100 µm) particles. Following density separation and wet peroxide oxidation, a low-temperature solvent extraction protocol involving 2-chlorophneol was used to extract polyester (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The extract was analyzed using Py-GC-MS for the respective polymers, while the solid residue was pyrolyzed separately for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The one-step solvent extraction method significantly simplified the sample matrix and improved the sensitivity of analysis. Among the samples, PET was detected in greater quantities in the fine fraction than in the intermediate size fraction, and PET fine particles were located predominantly in the surface sand. Similarly to PET, PS was detected at higher mass concentrations in the fine particles in most samples. These results underscore the importance of beach environment for plastic fragmentation, where a combination of factors including UV irradiation, mechanical abrasion, and water exposure promote plastic breakdown. Surface accumulation of fine plastic particles may also be attributed to transport of microplastics through wind and tides. The proposed sample treatment and analysis methods may allow sensitive and quantitative measurements of size or depth-related distribution patterns of microplastics in complex environmental media.

Assessment on Functionalized Conjugated Acetylide and Its Designated Acetylide-Imine Moieties towards Acanthamoeba sp.: An in vitro Bioindicator Study.

The demand for developing bioindicators to assess environmental pollution has increased significantly due to the awareness of potential threats of diseases. Herein, the eukaryotic ubiquitous microorganism Acanthamoeba sp. was used as a bioindicator to explore further the influence of functionalized organic molecules containing -C≡C- and -CH=N- moieties prior application in the potential electronic components. The acetylide and hybrid acetylide-imine derivatives (FYD3A, FYD4B, and FYD4C) were tested for their cytotoxicity potentials based on dose-response analysis, morphological observation, and mode of cell death assessment on Acanthamoeba sp. (environmental-isolate). The biological activities of optimized compounds were evaluated by HOMO-LUMO energy gap and MEP analysis. The determination of the IC50 value through the MTT assay showed functionalized organic molecules of FYD3A, FYD4B, and FYD4C, revealing the inhibition growth of Acanthamoeba sp. with IC50 values in the 3.515 - 3.845 µg/mL range. Morphological observation displayed encystment with cellular agglutination and overall cell shrinkage. AO/PI-stained moieties-treated Acanthamoeba sp. cells appeared with shades of red to orange in necrotic Acanthamoeba cells whilst green to yellow apoptotic Acanthamoeba cells when compared to entirely green fluorescence untreated cells. Moreover, the results of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay demonstrate the integrity and functionality potential of the mitochondrial membrane in cells, where a decrease in the MMP assay is linked to apoptosis. This study confirmed that the functionalized organic molecule featuring acetylide and its designated acetylide-imine moieties exhibit cytotoxicity towards the Acanthamoeba sp. by apoptotic and necrotic mode of cell death. This indicates that seeping these derivatives as electronic components can lead to the leaching of hazardous chemicals and contribute to environmental pollution that negatively affects the ecosystem. This study proposes the selection of efficient systems and elements for functionalized organic molecules that are safe to be released into the environment.

[Synthesis of Modified Nucleosides Using 4'-Carbon Radicals].

Nucleosides with a substituent at the 4'-position have received much attention as antiviral drugs and as raw materials for oligonucleotide therapeutics. 4'-Modified nucleosides are generally synthesized using ionic reactions through the introduction of electrophilic or nucleophilic substituents at the 4'-position. However, their synthetic methods have some drawbacks; e.g., (i) it is difficult to control stereoselectivity at the 4'-position; (ii) complex protection-deprotection processes are required; (iii) the range of electrophiles and nucleophiles is limited. With this background, we considered that a carbon radical generated at the 4'-position would be a useful intermediate for the synthesis of 4'-modified nucleosides. In this review, two novel methods for the generation of 4'-carbon radicals are summarized. The first utilizes radical deformylation involving ß-fragmentation of a hydroxymethyl group at the 4'-position. The other utilizes radical decarboxylation and 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer (1,5-HAT), which enables the generation of 4'-carbon radicals while retaining the hydroxymethyl group at the 4'-position. These methods enable the rapid and facile generation of 4'-carbon radicals and provide various 4'-modified nucleosides including 2',4'-bridged structures.

Does habitat modification impact morphology, performance, and inflammatory responses in an amphibian with limited dispersal capacity (Lisssotriton helveticus)?

The environment of an organism exerts selective pressures that affect mobility, feeding, reproduction as well as predator-prey and conspecific interactions. Land use changes induced by human activities modify these selective pressures and may result in the adaptation of organisms. Amphibians are ectotherms that typically show a biphasic life cycle with an aquatic and terrestrial phase, which makes them particularly sensitive to environmental change. We studied the impact of habitat modifications on palmate newt populations in the Ile de France region across four types of habitats: urban, mixed, agricultural, and natural with at least two replicates for each habitat type. We measured the morphology of newts using callipers, quantified maximal running and swimming speed and acceleration using high-speed video recordings, and quantified the swelling of the hind limb linked to an inflammatory reaction. Our results show that in urban habitats, newts are larger and heavier and have a better body condition. Females, moreover, have a larger head in natural habitats, possibly due to diet specialisation of females during the breeding season. In mixed and agricultural habitats, newts have longer limbs and show a tendency to run faster, possibly associated with the selective pressures on movement in mixed habitats. Differences in inflammatory responses were observed between sexes but not habitat types. Overall, our results show differences in morphology and trends for differences in performance in newts living in different habitats suggesting that animals are adapting to human-induced changes in their environment.

Early signs of plastic degradation and fragmentation: A 40-day study in marine environments.

Conventional plastics are widely present in the ocean as marine plastic debris. This in-situ study investigates the degradability and fragmentation of seven common conventional plastics (PET, PVC, PS, EPS, PP, HDPE, and LDPE) in natural marine environments over a 40-day period. All plastics showed significant chemical changes and oscillating plastic oxidation levels, indicating the synergistic processes of oxidation and removal of oxidation products. Polystyrenes and polymers with heteroatoms showed the largest degradation potentials, while pure polyolefins exhibited the highest fragmentation risks. SEM images suggest potentials of EPS and pure polyolefins in generating microplastic fragments, and polymers with heteroatoms in generating nanoplastic fragments. PS did not exhibit any surface degradation signs, potentially due to enhanced crystallinity through oxidation. The findings highlight the need for reduced usage of EPS and pure polyolefins which are commonly applied as disposable utensils and food packaging, and prioritized cleanup of these polymers to reduce microplastic pollution in the environment.

Diversified flood governance and related socio-spatial vulnerability in Tana River County, Kenya.

What are the consequential socio-spatial vulnerabilities of fragmentation in flood risk governance (FRG) functions in Tana River County, Kenya? To answer the question, this paper utilises social differentiation theory to establish types and consequences of such fragmentation. It applies theoretical patterns and processes of social differentiation to expose that FRG diversification could result in fragmentation of FRG functions. The study employs an interview strategy that focuses on governmental and non-governmental FRG actors. The results reveal that fragmented FRG functions in Tana River County was not an intentional policy decision, but rather a product of a transitional vacuum between policy promulgation and implementation. Furthermore, socio-spatial vulnerabilities differentiated by patterns and processes related to age, gender, disability, and ethnicity, for instance, are consequential outcomes of fragmented FRG functions in the Tana River floodplains. The study recommends implementation of the National Disaster Management Policy in Tana River County and institutionalisation of a specific FRG policy and legal framework.

When is lethal deceptive pollination maintained? A population dynamics approach.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Not all plant-pollinator interactions are mutualistic, and in fact, deceptive pollination systems are widespread in nature. The genus Arisaema has a pollination system known as lethal deceptive pollination, in which plants not only attract pollinating insects without providing any rewards, but also trap them until they die. Many Arisaema species are endangered from various disturbances including reduction in forest habitat, modification of the forest understory owing to increasing deer abundance, and plant theft for horticultural cultivation. We aimed to theoretically investigate how lethal deceptive pollination can be maintained from a demographic perspective and how plant and pollinator populations respond to different types of disturbance. METHODS: We developed and analysed a mathematical model to describe the population dynamics of a deceptive plant species and its victim pollinator. Calibrating the model based on empirical data, we assessed the conditions under which plants and pollinators could coexist, while manipulating relevant key parameters. KEY RESULTS: The model exhibited qualitatively distinct behaviours depending on certain parameters. The plant becomes extinct when it has a low capability for vegetative reproduction and slow transition from male to female, and plant-insect co-extinction occurs especially when the plant is highly attractive to male insects. Increasing deer abundance has both positive and negative effects because of removal of other competitive plants and diminishing pollinators, respectively. Theft for horticultural cultivation can readily threaten plants whether male or female plants are frequently collected. The impact of forest habitat reduction may be limited compared to that of other disturbance types. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have emphasised that the demographic vulnerability of lethal deceptive pollination systems would differ qualitatively from that of general mutualistic pollination systems. It is therefore important to consider the demographics of both victim pollinators and deceptive plants to estimate how endangered Arisaema populations respond to various disturbances.

Impact of sperm DNA fragmentation in couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has a multifactorial etiology, with a majority of cases remaining unexplained. To account for these unexplained cases, possible male factors are being explored. Conventional semen analysis lacks a qualitative assessment of sperms and information regarding sperm DNA integrity. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has diagnostic value in unexplained RPL, and it may account for a number of unexplained cases. Hence, we planned a study to explore and evaluate the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation in couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy losses. STUDY DESIGN: Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary-level referral facility in India between August 2021 and July 2023. Participants (n = 70) were divided into two groups-male partners of couples with unexplained RPL (following spontaneous conceptions) (n = 35) and men with at least one previous live birth (spontaneous or following fertility treatments for female factor infertility such as ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination) as controls (n = 35). Neither of the two groups of couples recruited for this study had undergone ART as fertility treatment. Primary outcome assessed was mean DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Secondary outcomes included differences in semen parameters such as sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and morphology, proportion of men with high (≥30%) and low DFI in the two groups, and the association between various semen parameters and DFI. RESULTS: Univariate logistic regression revealed that sperm DNA fragmentation was higher in men with unexplained RPL (30.0; IQR (interquartile range) 19.0, 46.0) as compared to controls (22.0; IQR 14.0, 30.0) although it was not statistically significant (OR, odds ratio, 1.02; 95% CI 1.0-1.1, p = 0.08). A higher proportion of men with unexplained RPL had DFI ≥30% compared to controls (54.2% vs. 25.7%; OR 3.43 (95% CI 1.2-9.4); p = 0.02). No statistically significant differences were observed in semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, and morphology between the two groups. Sperm DNA fragmentation index also showed a weak but significant inverse relationship with sperm morphology (r = -0.336, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The current study did not show any significant difference in the mean sperm DNA fragmentation levels in male partners of couples with unexplained RPL compared to controls. However, a higher proportion of men with DFI ≥30% were observed in unexplained RPL population when compared to controls.

Segmentation of beach plastic fragments' contours based on self-organizing map and multi-shape descriptors: A rapid indication of fragmentation and wearing types.

Environmental plastic fragments have been verified as byproducts of large plastic and its secondary pollutants including micro and nanoplastics. There are few quantitative studies available, but their contours have values for the weathering mechanisms. We used geometric descriptors, fractal dimensions, and Fourier descriptors to characterize field and artificial polyethylene and polypropylene samples as a means of investigating the contour characteristics. It provides a methodological framework for contour classification. Unsupervised classification was performed using self-organizing neural networks with size-invariance parameters. We revealed the isometric phenomenon of plastic fragments during fragmentation, i.e., that the degree of contour rounding and complexity increase and decrease, respectively, with decreasing fragment size. With an average error rate of 8.9 %, we can distinguish artificial samples from field samples. It was also validated by the difference in Carbonyl Index between groups. We propose a two-stage process for plastic fragmentation and give three types of contour features which were key in the description of fragmented contours, i.e., size, complexity, and rounding. Our work will improve the accuracy of characterizations regarding the weathering and fragmentation processes of certain kinds of plastic fragments. The contour parameters also have the potential to be applied in more realistic scenarios and varied polymers.

Automatic molecular fragmentation by evolutionary optimisation.

Molecular fragmentation is an effective suite of approaches to reduce the formal computational complexity of quantum chemistry calculations while enhancing their algorithmic parallelisability. However, the practical applicability of fragmentation techniques remains hindered by a dearth of automation and effective metrics to assess the quality of a fragmentation scheme. In this article, we present the Quick Fragmentation via Automated Genetic Search (QFRAGS), a novel automated fragmentation algorithm that uses a genetic optimisation procedure to generate molecular fragments that yield low energy errors when adopted in Many Body Expansions (MBEs). Benchmark testing of QFRAGS on protein systems with less than 500 atoms, using two-body (MBE2) and three-body (MBE3) MBE calculations at the HF/6-31G* level, reveals mean absolute energy errors (MAEE) of 20.6 and 2.2 kJ  mol - 1 , respectively. For larger protein systems exceeding 500 atoms, MAEEs are 181.5 kJ  mol - 1 for MBE2 and 24.3 kJ  mol - 1 for MBE3. Furthermore, when compared to three manual fragmentation schemes on a 40-protein dataset, using both MBE and Fragment Molecular Orbital techniques, QFRAGS achieves comparable or often lower MAEEs. When applied to a 10-lipoglycan/glycolipid dataset, MAEs of 7.9 and 0.3 kJ  mol - 1 were observed at the MBE2 and MBE3 levels, respectively.Scientific Contribution This Article presents the Quick Fragmentation via Automated Genetic Search (QFRAGS), an innovative molecular fragmentation algorithm that significantly improves upon existing molecular fragmentation approaches by specifically addressing their lack of automation and effective fragmentation quality metrics. With an evolutionary optimisation strategy, QFRAGS actively pursues high quality fragments, generating fragmentation schemes that exhibit minimal energy errors on systems with hundreds to thousands of atoms. The advent of QFRAGS represents a significant advancement in molecular fragmentation, greatly improving the accessibility and computational feasibility of accurate quantum chemistry calculations.

[dvances in the diagnosis and treatment of necrozoospermia].

Necrozoospermia is a special type of asthenospermia, in which mass sperm death is commonly seen, with an incidence rate of 0.2%－0.4%. Studies on necrospermia are rarely reported. Its etiology is complicated, and its diagnosis and treatment are very difficult. This article focuses on the main etiological factors, pathophysiological mechanism, diagnostic methods and treatment strategies of necrospermia, aiming to provide some reference for andrologists and reproduction physicians, as well as a theoretical guidance for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the treatment of the patients with necrospermia.

Assessing forest fragmentation due to land use changes from 1992 to 2023: A spatio-temporal analysis using remote sensing data.

The increasing pressures of urban development and agricultural expansion have significant implications for land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Murree and Kotli Sattian tehsils of the Rawalpindi district in Pakistan. This study's primary objective is to assess spatial variations within each LULC category over three decades (1992-2023) using cross-tabulation in ArcGIS to identify changes in LULC and investigates into forest fragmentation analysis using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool (LFTv2.0) to classify forest into several classes such as patch, edge, perforated, small core, medium core, and large core. Utilizing remote sensing data from Landsat 5 and Landsat 9 satellites, the research focuses on the temporal dynamics in various land classes including Coniferous Forest (CF), Evergreen Forest (EF), Arable Land (AR), Buildup Area (BU), Barren Land (BA), Water (WA), and Grassland (GL). The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier and ArcGIS software were employed for image processing and classification, ensuring accuracy in categorizing different land types. Our results indicate a notable reduction in forested areas, with Coniferous Forest (CF) decreasing from 363.9 km2, constituting 45.0 % of the area in 1992, to 291.5 km2 (36.0 %) in 2023, representing a total decrease of 72.4 km2. Similarly, Evergreen Forests have also seen a significant reduction, from 177.9 km2 (22.0 %) in 1992 to 99.8 km2 (12.3 %) in 2023, a decrease of 78.1 km2. The study investigates into forest fragmentation analysis using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool (LFTv2.0), revealing an increase in fragmentation and a decrease in large core forests from 20.3 % of the total area in 1992 to 7.2 % in 2023. Additionally, the patch forest area increased from 2.4 % in 1992 to 5.9 % in 2023, indicating significant fragmentation. Transition matrices and a Sankey diagram illustrate the transitions between different LULC classes, providing a comprehensive view of the dynamics of land-use changes and their implications for ecosystem services. These findings highlight the critical need for robust conservation strategies and effective land management practices. The study contributes to the understanding of LULC dynamics and forest fragmentation in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, offering insights essential for future land management and policymaking in the face of rapid environmental changes.

Ambulatory Care Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Depression.

The association between depression and ambulatory care utilization is unclear. The authors sought to determine the association between untreated depression and ambulatory care utilization, including the extent to which care is fragmented, or spread across providers. The authors conducted a longitudinal study using data from the nationwide REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study linked to Medicare fee-for-service claims (N = 1412). They categorized participants into three study groups, based on self-reported depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score ≥ 4) and a medication inventory for antidepressants: Symptomatic Untreated (SU), Symptomatic Treated (ST), and Asymptomatic Treated (AT). The authors used descriptive statistics to characterize ambulatory care patterns by study group. They determined the association between the study group and fragmentation score (with high fragmentation defined as a reversed Bice-Boxerman Index ≥ 0.85) using multivariable logistic regression. All groups had similar numbers of primary care visits, but the SU group had the fewest specialist visits. The SU group had the lowest proportion of participants who received care from a psychiatrist (3.4% vs. 10.7% for ST and 11.9% for AT, pairwise P-values < 0.001). The SU group was the least likely to have highly fragmented care (adjusted odds ratio 0.68; 95% confidence interval 0.48, 0.95, compared with the ST group). These results suggest that older adults with untreated depression are not engaged in excess care-seeking behaviors. Rather, the results suggest undertreatment of depression in primary care and underutilization of psychiatric care.

The mitochondrial genome of Bottapotamon fukienense (Brachiura: Potamidae) is fragmented into two chromosomes.

BACKGROUND: China is the hotspot of global freshwater crab diversity, but their wild populations are facing severe pressures associated with anthropogenic factors, necessitating the need to map their taxonomic and genetic diversity and design conservation policies. RESULTS: Herein, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of a Chinese freshwater crab species Bottapotamon fukienense, and found that it is fragmented into two chromosomes. We confirmed that fragmentation was not limited to a single specimen or population. Chromosome 1 comprised 15,111 base pairs (bp) and there were 26 genes and one pseudogene (pseudo-nad1) encoded on it. Chromosome 2 comprised 8,173 bp and there were 12 genes and two pseudogenes (pseudo-trnL2 and pseudo-rrnL) encoded on it. Combined, they comprise the largest mitogenome (23,284 bp) among the Potamidae. Bottapotamon was the only genus in the Potamidae dataset exhibiting rearrangements of protein-coding genes. Bottapotamon fukienense exhibited average rates of sequence evolution in the dataset and did not differ in selection pressures from the remaining Potamidae. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first experimentally confirmed fragmentation of a mitogenome in crustaceans. While the mitogenome of B. fukienense exhibited multiple signs of elevated mitogenomic architecture evolution rates, including the exceptionally large size, duplicated genes, pseudogenisation, rearrangements of protein-coding genes, and fragmentation, there is no evidence that this is matched by elevated sequence evolutionary rates or changes in selection pressures.

A comprehensive gas chromatography electron ionization high resolution mass spectrometry study of a new steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) compound S42.

The synthetic 20-keto-steroid S42 (1) demonstrated selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) properties in preclinical studies and, consequently, received growing attention also in the context of sports drug testing programs. Fundamental understanding of the behavior of S42 (1) and of relevant derivatives in gas chromatography-electron ionization MS experiments at high resolution (GC-EI-HRMS) is indispensable to develop a reliable qualitative and quantitative doping control method for S42 (1) and its metabolites in body fluid matrices. We present important fundamental mechanistic data on the EI fragmentation behavior of S42 (1) and of silyl ether derivatives as well as of stable isotope-labelled reference material.

Fragmentation of care in breast cancer: greater than the sum of its parts.

INTRODUCTION: Fragmentation of care (FC, the receipt of care at > 1 institution) has been shown to negatively impact cancer outcomes. Given the multimodal nature of breast cancer treatment, we sought to identify factors associated with FC and its effects on survival of breast cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of surgically treated, stage I-III breast cancer patients in the 2004-2020 National Cancer Database, excluding neoadjuvant therapy recipients. Patients were stratified into two groups: FC or non-FC care. Treatment delay was defined as definitive surgery > 60 days after diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors predictive of FC, and survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards methods. RESULTS: Of the 531,644 patients identified, 340,297 (64.0%) received FC. After adjustment, FC (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.25-1.29) was independently associated with treatment delay. Factors predictive of FC included Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07), treatment at comprehensive community cancer programs (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.08) and integrated network cancer programs (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.51-1.59), AJCC stage II (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.05-1.07) and stage III tumors (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10), and HR + /HER2 + tumors (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.07). Treatment delay was independently associated with increased risk of mortality (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.20-1.26), whereas FC (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.86-0.88) showed survival benefit. CONCLUSIONS: While treatment delay negatively impacts survival in breast cancer patients, our findings suggest FC could be a marker for multispecialty care that may mitigate some of these effects.