Future trends of marine fish biomass distributions from the North Sea to the Barents Sea.

Climate warming is one of the facets of anthropogenic global change predicted to increase in the future, its magnitude depending on present-day decisions. The north Atlantic and Arctic Oceans are already undergoing community changes, with warmer-water species expanding northwards, and colder-water species retracting. However, the future extent and implications of these shifts remain unclear. Here, we fitted a joint species distribution model to occurrence data of 107, and biomass data of 61 marine fish species from 16,345 fishery independent trawls sampled between 2004 and 2022 in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, including the Barents Sea. We project overall increases in richness and declines in relative dominance in the community, and generalised increases in species' ranges and biomass across three different future scenarios in 2050 and 2100. The projected decline of capelin and the practical extirpation of polar cod from the system, the two most abundant species in the Barents Sea, drove an overall reduction in fish biomass at Arctic latitudes that is not replaced by expanding species. Furthermore, our projections suggest that Arctic demersal fish will be at high risk of extinction by the end of the century if no climate refugia is available at eastern latitudes.

Congenital duodenal obstruction repair with and without transanastomotic tube feeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of transanastomotic tube (TAT) feeding in congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO). DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. PATIENTS: Infants with CDO requiring surgical repair. INTERVENTIONS: TAT feeding following CDO repair versus no TAT feeding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was time to full enteral feeds. Additional outcomes included use of parenteral nutrition (PN), cost and complications from either TAT or central venous catheter. Meta-analyses were undertaken using random-effects models (mean difference (MD) and risk difference (RD)), and risk of bias was assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. RESULTS: Twelve out of 373 articles screened met the inclusion criteria. All studies were observational and two were prospective. Nine studies, containing 469 infants, were available for meta-analysis; however, four were excluded due to serious or critical risk of bias. TAT feeding was associated with reduced time to full enteral feeds (-3.34; 95% CI -4.48 to -2.20 days), reduced duration of PN (-6.32; 95% CI -7.93 to -4.71 days) and reduction in nutrition cost of £867.36 (95% CI £304.72 to £1430.00). Other outcomes were similar between those with and without a TAT including inpatient length of stay (MD -0.97 (-5.03 to 3.09) days), mortality (RD -0.01 (-0.04 to 0.01)) and requirement for repeat surgery (RD 0.01 (-0.03 to 0.05)). CONCLUSION: TAT feeding following CDO repair appears beneficial, without increased risk of adverse events; however, certainty of available evidence is low. Earlier enteral feeding and reduced PN use are known to decrease central venous catheter-associated risks while significantly reducing cost of care. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022328381.

RAD51-mediated R-loop formation acts to repair transcription-associated DNA breaks driving antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei.

RNA-DNA hybrids are epigenetic features of all genomes that intersect with many processes, including transcription, telomere homeostasis, and centromere function. Increasing evidence suggests that RNA-DNA hybrids can provide two conflicting roles in the maintenance and transmission of genomes: They can be the triggers of DNA damage, leading to genome change, or can aid the DNA repair processes needed to respond to DNA lesions. Evasion of host immunity by African trypanosomes, such as Trypanosoma brucei, relies on targeted recombination of silent Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) genes into a specialized telomeric locus that directs transcription of just one VSG from thousands. How such VSG recombination is targeted and initiated is unclear. Here, we show that a key enzyme of T. brucei homologous recombination, RAD51, interacts with RNA-DNA hybrids. In addition, we show that RNA-DNA hybrids display a genome-wide colocalization with DNA breaks and that this relationship is impaired by mutation of RAD51. Finally, we show that RAD51 acts to repair highly abundant, localised DNA breaks at the single transcribed VSG and that mutation of RAD51 alters RNA-DNA hybrid abundance at 70 bp repeats both around the transcribed VSG and across the silent VSG archive. This work reveals a widespread, generalised role for RNA-DNA hybrids in directing RAD51 activity during recombination and uncovers a specialised application of this interplay during targeted DNA break repair needed for the critical T. brucei immune evasion reaction of antigenic variation.

Numbers of fish species, higher taxa, and phylogenetic similarity decrease with latitude and depth, and deep-sea assemblages are unique.

Species richness has been found to increase from the poles to the tropics but with a small dip near the equator over all marine fishes. Phylogenetic diversity measures offer an alternative perspective on biodiversity linked to evolutionary history. If phylogenetic diversity is standardized for species richness, then it may indicate places with relatively high genetic diversity. Latitudes and depths with both high species and phylogenetic diversity would be a priority for conservation. We compared latitudinal and depth gradients of species richness, and three measures of phylogenetic diversity, namely average phylogenetic diversity (AvPD), the sum of the higher taxonomic levels (STL) and the sum of the higher taxonomic levels divided by the number of species (STL/spp) for modelled ranges of 5,619 marine fish species. We distinguished all, bony and cartilaginous fish groups and four depth zones namely: whole water column; 0 -200 m; 201-1,000 m; and 1,001-6,000 m; at 5°  latitudinal intervals from 75°S to 75°N, and at 100 m depth intervals from 0 m to 3,500 m. Species richness and higher taxonomic richness (STL) were higher in the tropics and subtropics with a small dip at the equator, and were significantly correlated among fish groups and depth zones. Species assemblages had closer phylogenetic relationships (lower AvPD and STL/spp) in warmer (low latitudes and shallow water) than colder environments (high latitudes and deep sea). This supports the hypothesis that warmer shallow latitudes and depths have had higher rates of evolution across a range of higher taxa. We also found distinct assemblages of species in different depth zones such that deeper sea species are not simply a subset of shallow assemblages. Thus, conservation needs to be representative of all latitudes and depth zones to encompass global biodiversity.

Widespread support for a global species list with a formal governance system.

Taxonomic data are a scientific common. Unlike nomenclature, which has strong governance institutions, there are currently no generally accepted governance institutions for the compilation of taxonomic data into an accepted global list. This gap results in challenges for conservation, ecological research, policymaking, international trade, and other areas of scientific and societal importance. Consensus on a global list and its management requires effective governance and standards, including agreed mechanisms for choosing among competing taxonomies and partial lists. However, governance frameworks are currently lacking, and a call for governance in 2017 generated critical responses. Any governance system to which compliance is voluntary requires a high level of legitimacy and credibility among those by and for whom it is created. Legitimacy and credibility, in turn, require adequate and credible consultation. Here, we report on the results of a global survey of taxonomists, scientists from other disciplines, and users of taxonomy designed to assess views and test ideas for a new system of taxonomic list governance. We found a surprisingly high degree of agreement on the need for a global list of accepted species and their names, and consistent views on what such a list should provide to users and how it should be governed. The survey suggests that consensus on a mechanism to create, manage, and govern a single widely accepted list of all the world's species is achievable. This finding was unexpected given past controversies about the merits of list governance.

Mechanical Characterization of the Human Abdominal Wall Using Uniaxial Tensile Testing.

It is generally accepted that the human abdominal wall comprises skin, subcutaneous tissues, muscles and their aponeuroses, and the parietal peritoneum. Understanding these layers and their mechanical properties provides valuable information to those designing procedural skills trainers, supporting surgical procedures (hernia repair), and engineering-based work (in silico simulation). However, there is little literature available on the mechanical properties of the abdominal wall in layers or as a composite in the context of designing a procedural skills trainer. This work characterizes the tensile properties of the human abdominal wall by layer and as a partial composite. Tissues were collected from fresh-never-frozen and fresh-frozen cadavers and tested in uniaxial tension at a rate of 5 mm/min until failure. Stress-strain curves were created for each sample, and the values for elastic moduli, ultimate tensile strength, and strain at failure were obtained. The experimental outcomes from this study demonstrated variations in tensile properties within and between tissues. The data also suggest that the tensile properties of composite abdominal walls are not additive. Ultimately, this body of work contributes to a deeper comprehension of these mechanical properties and will serve to enhance patient care, refine surgical interventions, and assist with more sophisticated engineering solutions.

Over 20% of marine fishes shifting in the North and Barents Seas, but not in the Norwegian Sea.

Climate warming generally induces poleward range expansions and equatorward range contractions of species' environmental niches on a global scale. Here, we examined the direction and magnitude of species biomass centroid geographic shifts in relation to temperature and depth for 83 fish species in 9,522 standardised research trawls from the North Sea (1998-2020) to the Norwegian (2000-2020) and Barents Sea (2004-2020). We detected an overall significant northward shift of the marine fish community biomass in the North Sea, and individual species northward shifts in the Barents and North Seas, in 20% and 25% of the species' biomass centroids in each respective region. We did not detect overall community shifts in the Norwegian Sea, where two species (8%) shifted in each direction (northwards and southwards). Among 9 biological traits, species biogeographic assignation, preferred temperature, age at maturity and maximum depth were significant explanatory variables for species latitudinal shifts in some of the study areas, and Arctic species shifted significantly faster than boreal species in the Barents Sea. Overall, our results suggest a strong influence of other factors, such as biological interactions, in determining several species' recent geographic shifts.

Body size and trophic level increase with latitude, and decrease in the deep-sea and Antarctica, for marine fish species.

The functional traits of species depend both on species' evolutionary characteristics and their local environmental conditions and opportunities. The temperature-size rule (TSR), gill-oxygen limitation theory (GOLT), and temperature constraint hypothesis (TCH) have been proposed to explain the gradients of body size and trophic level of marine species. However, how functional traits vary both with latitude and depth have not been quantified at a global scale for any marine taxon. We compared the latitudinal gradients of trophic level and maximum body size of 5,619 marine fish from modelled species ranges, based on (1) three body size ranges, <30, 30-100, and >100 cm, and (2) four trophic levels, <2.20, 2.20-2.80, 2.81-3.70, >3.70. These were parsed into 5° latitudinal intervals in four depth zones: whole water column, 0-200, 201-1,000, and 1,001-6,000 m. We described the relationship between latitudinal gradients of functional traits and salinity, sea surface and near seabed temperatures, and dissolved oxygen. We found mean body sizes and mean trophic levels of marine fish were smaller and lower in the warmer latitudes, and larger and higher respectively in the high latitudes except for the Southern Ocean (Antarctica). Fish species with trophic levels ≤2.80 were dominant in warmer and absent in colder environments. We attribute these differences in body size and trophic level between polar regions to the greater environmental heterogeneity of the Arctic compared to Antarctica. We suggest that fish species' mean maximum body size declined with depth because of decreased dissolved oxygen. These results support the TSR, GOLT and TCH hypotheses respectively. Thus, at the global scale, temperature and oxygen are primary factors affecting marine fishes' biogeography and biological traits.

Progress in the discovery of isopods (Crustacea: Peracarida)-is the description rate slowing down?

Taxonomic species are the best standardised metric of biodiversity. Therefore, there is broad scientific and public interest in how many species have already been named and how many more may exist. Crustaceans comprise about 6% of all named animal species and isopods about 15% of all crustaceans. Here, we review progress in the naming of isopods in relation to the number of people describing new species and estimate how many more species may yet be named by 2050 and 2100, respectively. In over two and a half centuries of discovery, 10,687 isopod species in 1,557 genera and 141 families have been described by 755 first authors. The number of authors has increased over time, especially since the 1950s, indicating increasing effort in the description of new species. Despite that the average number of species described per first author has declined since the 1910s, and the description rate has slowed down over the recent decades. Authors' publication lifetimes did not change considerably over time, and there was a distinct shift towards multi-authored publications in recent decades. Estimates from a non-homogeneous renewal process model predict that an additional 660 isopod species will be described by 2100, assuming that the rate of description continues at its current pace.

Fishery catch is affected by geographic expansion, fishing down food webs and climate change in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Historical fishing effort has resulted, in many parts of the ocean, in increasing catches of smaller, lower trophic level species once larger higher trophic level species have been depleted. Concurrently, changes in the geographic distribution of marine species have been observed as species track their thermal affinity in line with ocean warming. However, geographic shifts in fisheries, including to deeper waters, may conceal the phenomenon of fishing down the food web and effects of climate warming on fish stocks. Fisheries-catch weighted metrics such as the Mean Trophic Level (MTL) and Mean Temperature of the Catch (MTC) are used to investigate these phenomena, although apparent trends of these metrics can be masked by the aforementioned geographic expansion and deepening of fisheries catch across large areas and time periods. We investigated instances of both fishing down trophic levels and climate-driven changes in the geographic distribution of fished species in New Zealand waters from 1950-2019, using the MTL and MTC. Thereafter, we corrected for the masking effect of the geographic expansion of fisheries within these indices by using the Fishing-in-Balance (FiB) index and the adapted Mean Trophic Level (aMTL) index. Our results document the offshore expansion of fisheries across the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from 1950-2019, as well as the pervasiveness of fishing down within nearshore fishing stock assemblages. We also revealed the warming of the MTC for pelagic-associated fisheries, trends that were otherwise masked by the depth- and geographic expansion of New Zealand fisheries across the study period.

Hurdles and opportunities in implementing marine biosecurity systems in data-poor regions.

Managing marine nonindigenous species (mNIS) is challenging, because marine environments are highly connected, allowing the dispersal of species across large spatial scales, including geopolitical borders. Cross-border inconsistencies in biosecurity management can promote the spread of mNIS across geopolitical borders, and incursions often go unnoticed or unreported. Collaborative surveillance programs can enhance the early detection of mNIS, when response may still be possible, and can foster capacity building around a common threat. Regional or international databases curated for mNIS can inform local monitoring programs and can foster real-time information exchange on mNIS of concern. When combined, local species reference libraries, publicly available mNIS databases, and predictive modeling can facilitate the development of biosecurity programs in regions lacking baseline data. Biosecurity programs should be practical, feasible, cost-effective, mainly focused on prevention and early detection, and be built on the collaboration and coordination of government, nongovernment organizations, stakeholders, and local citizens for a rapid response.

What the F-POD? Comparing the F-POD and C-POD for monitoring of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a cost-effective method for monitoring cetacean populations compared with techniques such as aerial and ship-based surveys. The Cetacean POrpoise Detector (C-POD) has become an integral tool in monitoring programs globally for over a decade, providing standardized metrics of occurrence that can be compared across time and space. However, the phasing out of C-PODs following the development of the new Full waveform capture POD (F-POD) with increased sensitivity, improved train detection, and reduced false-positive rates represents an important methodological change in data collection, particularly when being introduced into existing monitoring programs. Here, we compare the performance of the C-POD with that of its successor, the F-POD, co-deployed in a field setting for 15 months, to monitor harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). While similar temporal trends in detections were found for both devices, the C-POD detected only 58% of the detection-positive minutes (DPM), recorded by the F-POD. Differences in detection rates were not consistent through time making it difficult to apply a correction factor or directly compare results obtained from the two PODs. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to test whether these differences in detection rates would have an effect on analyses of temporal patterns and environmental drivers of occurrence. No differences were found in seasonal patterns or the environmental correlates of porpoise occurrence (month, diel period, temperature, environmental noise, and tide). However, the C-POD failed to detect sufficient foraging rates to identify temporal patterns in foraging behavior, which were shown by the F-POD. Our results suggest that the switch to F-PODs will have little effect on determining broad-scale seasonal patterns of occurrence but may improve our understanding of fine-scale behaviors such as foraging. We highlight how care must be taken interpreting F-POD results as indicative of increased occurrence when used in time-series analysis.

Oceanographic connectivity explains the intra-specific diversity of mangrove forests at global scales.

The distribution of mangrove intra-specific biodiversity can be structured by historical demographic processes that enhance or limit effective population sizes. Oceanographic connectivity (OC) may further structure intra-specific biodiversity by preserving or diluting the genetic signatures of historical changes. Despite its relevance for biogeography and evolution, the role of oceanographic connectivity in structuring the distribution of mangrove's genetic diversity has not been addressed at global scale. Here we ask whether connectivity mediated by ocean currents explains the intra-specific diversity of mangroves. A comprehensive dataset of population genetic differentiation was compiled from the literature. Multigenerational connectivity and population centrality indices were estimated with biophysical modeling coupled with network analyses. The variability explained in genetic differentiation was tested with competitive regression models built upon classical isolation-by-distance (IBD) models considering geographic distance. We show that oceanographic connectivity can explain the genetic differentiation of mangrove populations regardless of the species, region, and genetic marker (significant regression models in 95% of cases, with an average R-square of 0.44 ± 0.23 and Person's correlation of 0.65 ± 0.17), systematically improving IBD models. Centrality indices, providing information on important stepping-stone sites between biogeographic regions, were also important in explaining differentiation (R-square improvement of 0.06 ± 0.07, up to 0.42). We further show that ocean currents produce skewed dispersal kernels for mangroves, highlighting the role of rare long-distance dispersal events responsible for historical settlements. Overall, we demonstrate the role of oceanographic connectivity in structuring mangrove intra-specific diversity. Our findings are critical for mangroves' biogeography and evolution, but also for management strategies considering climate change and genetic biodiversity conservation.

Patient and provider perspectives to utilization of telemedicine in surgery.

Objectives: Determine patient and provider perspectives on widespread rapid telemedicine implementation, understand the key components of a surgical telemedicine visit and identify factors that affect future telemedicine use. Summary of background data: Compared to other specialties, the field of surgery heretofore has had limited adoption of telemedicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic Healthcare, including the surgical specialties, saw new widespread use of telemedicine. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study during the COVID-19 California stay-at-home and physical distancing executive orders. Utilization data were collected from clinics and compared to usage data during the same time 1 year later. All patients and providers who participated in a telemedicine visit during the study period were asked to complete a survey after each encounter and the surveys were analyzed for trends in opinions on future use by stakeholders. Results: Over the 10-week period, the median percentage of telemedicine visits per clinic was 33% (17%-51%) which peaked 3 weeks into implementation. One hundred and ninety-one patients (48% women) with a median age of 64 years (IQR 53-73) completed the patient survey. Patients were first-time participants in telemedicine in 41% (n = 79) of visits. Fifty-seven percent (n = 45) of first-time users preferred that future visits be in-person versus 31% of prior users (p = 0.007). The median travel time from home to the clinic was 40 min (IQR = 20-90). Patients with longer travel times were not more likely to use telemedicine in the future (61% with longer travel vs. 53% shorter, p = 0.11). From the 148 provider responses, 90% of the visits providers were able to create a definitive plan with the telemedicine visit. A physical exam was determined not to be needed in 45% of the visits. An attempt at any physical exam was not performed in 84% of routine follow-up or new-patient visits, compared to 53% of post-op visits (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Telemedicine is a viable ambulatory visit option for surgical specialists and their patients. During rapid telemedicine deployment, travel distance did not correlate with increased use of telemedicine, and in-person visits are still preferred. However, nearly half of all visits did not need a physical exam, which favors telemedicine use.

Three decades of increasing fish biodiversity across the northeast Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean.

Observed range shifts of numerous species support predictions of climate change models that species will shift their distribution northward into the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas due to ocean warming. However, how this is affecting overall species richness is unclear. Here we analyze 20,670 scientific research trawls from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean collected from 1994 to 2020, including 193 fish species. We found that demersal fish species richness at the local scale has doubled in some Arctic regions, including the Barents Sea, and increased at a lower rate at adjacent regions in the last three decades, followed by an increase in species richness and turnover at a regional scale. These changes in biodiversity correlated with an increase in sea bottom temperature. Within the study area, Arctic species' probability of occurrence generally declined over time. However, the increase in species from southern latitudes, together with an increase in some Arctic species, ultimately led to an enrichment of the Arctic and sub-Arctic marine fauna due to increasing water temperature consistent with climate change.

Implementing two-stage consent pathway in neonatal trials.

Perinatal trials sometimes require rapid recruitment processes to facilitate inclusion of participants when interventions are time-critical. A two-stage consent pathway has been used in some trials and is supported by national guidance. This pathway includes seeking oral assent for participation during the time-critical period followed by informed written consent later. This approach is being used in the fluids exclusively enteral from day one (FEED1) trial where participants need to be randomised within 3 hours of birth. There is some apprehension about approaching parents for participation via the oral assent pathway. The main reasons for this are consistent with previous research: lack of a written record, lack of standardised information and unfamiliarity with the process. Here, we describe how the pathway has been implemented in the FEED1 trial and the steps the trial team have taken to support sites. We provide recommendations for future trials to consider if they are considering implementing a similar pathway. Trial registration number: ISRCTN89654042.

Optimising growth in very preterm infants: reviewing the evidence.

Infants born before 32 weeks' postmenstrual age are at a high risk of growth failure. International guidelines have long recommended that they match the growth of an equivalent fetus, despite the challenges posed by ex utero life and comorbidities of prematurity. Several groups have recently questioned the necessity or desirability of this target, shifting attention to aiming for growth which optimises important long-term outcomes. Specifically, recent research has identified the neurodevelopmental benefits of enhanced growth during the neonatal period, but work in term infant suggests that rapid growth may promote the metabolic syndrome in later life. In this context, defining a pattern of growth which optimises outcomes is complex, controversial and contested. Even if an optimal pattern of growth can be defined, determining the nutritional requirements to achieve such growth is not straightforward, and investigations into the nutritional needs of the very preterm infant continue. Furthermore, each infant has individual nutritional needs and may encounter a number of barriers to achieving good nutrition. This article offers a narrative review of recent evidence for the competing definitions of optimal growth in this cohort. It examines recent advances in the determination of macronutrient and micronutrient intake targets along with common barriers to achieving good nutrition and growth. Finally, key implications for clinical practice are set out and a recommendation for structured multidisciplinary management of nutrition and growth is illustrated.

Climate change projections show shrinking deep-water ecosystems with implications for biodiversity and aquaculture in the Northwest Pacific.

The increased availability of environmental data with depth deriving from remote-sensing-based datasets permits more comprehensive modelling of the distribution of marine ecosystems in space and time. This research tests the potential of such objective modelling of marine ecosystems in four dimensions, spatial and temporal, to provide projections of how climate change may affect biodiversity, including aquaculture. This approach could be replicated for any regional seas. The Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea (BYECS) are marginal seas in the Northwest Pacific bounded by China, Korea, and Japan. Despite providing important ecological and economic services, their ecological conditions and ecosystems distribution have not yet been systematically mapped. This analysis used 13 marine environmental variables, measured on a three-dimensional and monthly basis during 1993-2019, to classify and map the BYECS region by k-means clustering using cosine similarity as distance function. There were 13 distinct areas identified that fit the definition of "ecosystems" that is, enduring regions demarcated by environmental characteristics. Of these 13 ecosystems, the Yellow Sea Cold Water (YSCW) Ecosystem is significant in relation to seasonal species composition and the newly developing deep-sea salmon caging aquaculture in the region. Projections of the potential size of this water mass under various climate-change scenarios based on analysis using the Non-Parametric Probabilistic Ecological Niche (NPPEN) model show that its volume may decrease 31 %-66 % in the future. Such a decrease would have impacts on the seasonal species' abundances in the BYECS marginal sea region and threaten the deep-sea cold-water salmon farming.