For management efforts to succeed in Caribbean fisheries, local fishers must support and be willing to comply with fishing regulations. This is more likely when fishers are included in a stock ...assessment process that utilizes robust scientific evidence, collected in collaboration with fishers, to evaluate the health of fish stocks. Caribbean parrotfishes are important contributors to coral reef ecosystem health while also contributing to local fisheries. Scientifically robust stock assessments require regional species-specific information on age-based key life history parameters, derived from fish age estimates. Evaluation of the accuracy of age estimation methods for fish species is a critical initial step in managing species for long-term sustainable harvest. The current study resulted from a collaborative research program between fish biologists and local fishers investigating age, growth, and reproductive biology of the seven parrotfish species landed in U.S. Caribbean fisheries; specifically, we validated age estimation for stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride and queen parrotfish Scarus vetula. This is the first study to directly validate age estimation for any parrotfish species through analysis of Δ14C from eye lens cores. Our age estimation validation results show that enumeration of opaque zones from thin sections of sagittal otoliths for a Sparisoma and a Scarus species provides accurate age estimates. The oldest stoplight parrotfish and queen parrotfish in the Δ14C age estimation validation series were 14 y and 16 y; while the oldest stoplight parrotfish and queen parrotfish we aged to-date using the Δ14C validated age estimation method were 20 y and 21 y, respectively. Fish longevity (maximum age attained/life span) is a key life history parameter used for estimation of natural mortality, survivorship, and lifetime reproductive output. Past reviews on parrotfishes from the Pacific and Atlantic concluded that most Caribbean/western Atlantic parrotfish species are relatively short-lived with estimated maximum ages ranging from 3-9 y. However, information from our collaborative research in the U.S. Caribbean combined with recently published age estimates for Brazilian parrotfish species indicate that many western Atlantic parrotfishes are relatively long-lived with several species attaining maximum ages in excess of 20 y.
CRISPR/Cas9 allows the generation of knockout cell lines and null zygotes by inducing site-specific double-stranded breaks. In most cases the DSB is repaired by non-homologous end joining, resulting ...in small nucleotide insertions or deletions that can be used to construct knockout alleles. However, these mutations do not produce the desired null result in all cases, but instead generate a similar, functionally active protein. This effect could limit the therapeutic efficiency of gene therapy strategies based on abrogating oncogene expression, and therefore needs to be considered carefully. If there is an acceptable degree of efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 delivery to cells, the key step for success lies in the effectiveness of a specific sgRNA at knocking out the oncogene, when only one sgRNA can be used. This study shows that the null effect could be increased with an sgRNA targeting the splice donor site (SDS) of the chosen exon. Following this strategy, the generation of null alleles would be facilitated in two independent ways: the probability of producing a frameshift mutation and the probability of interrupting the canonical mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing. In these contexts, we propose to improve the loss-of-function yield driving the CRISPR system at the SDS of critical exons.
We present an analysis of spectroscopic and astrometric data from APOGEE-2 and Gaia DR2 to identify structures toward the Orion Complex. By applying a hierarchical clustering algorithm to the ...six-dimensional stellar data, we identify spatially and/or kinematically distinct groups of young stellar objects with ages ranging from 1 to 12 Myr. We also investigate the star-forming history within the Orion Complex and identify peculiar subclusters. With this method we reconstruct the older populations in the regions that are currently largely devoid of molecular gas, such as Orion C (which includes the Ori cluster) and Orion D (the population that traces Ori OB1a, OB1b, and Orion X). We report on the distances, kinematics, and ages of the groups within the Complex. The Orion D group is in the process of expanding. On the other hand, Orion B is still in the process of contraction. In λ Ori the proper motions are consistent with a radial expansion due to an explosion from a supernova; the traceback age from the expansion exceeds the age of the youngest stars formed near the outer edges of the region, and their formation would have been triggered when they were halfway from the cluster center to their current positions. We also present a comparison between the parallax and proper-motion solutions obtained by Gaia DR2 and those obtained toward star-forming regions by the Very Long Baseline Array.
Chromosome 14q32 rearrangements/translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) are rarely detected in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The prognostic significance of the IGH ...translocation is controversial and its mutational profile remains unknown. Here, we present for the first time a comprehensive next‐generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of 46 CLL patients with IGH rearrangement (IGHR‐CLLs) and we demonstrate that IGHR‐CLLs have a distinct mutational profile with recurrent mutations in NOTCH1, IGLL5, POT1, BCL2, FBXW7, ZMYM3, MGA, BRAF and HIST1H1E genes. Interestingly, BCL2 and FBXW7 mutations were significantly associated with this subgroup and almost half of BCL2, IGLL5 and HISTH1E mutations reported were previously identified in non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. Notably, IGH/BCL2 rearrangements were associated with a lower mutation frequency and carried BCL2 and IGLL5 mutations, while the other IGHR‐CLLs had mutations in genes related to poor prognosis (NOTCH1, SF3B1 and TP53) and shorter time to first treatment (TFT). Moreover, IGHR‐CLLs patients showed a shorter TFT than CLL patients carrying 13q−, normal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and +12 CLL, being this prognosis particularly poor when NOTCH1, SF3B1, TP53, BIRC3 and BRAF were also mutated. The presence of these mutations not only was an independent risk factor within IGHR‐CLLs, but also refined the prognosis of low‐risk cytogenetic patients (13q−/normal FISH). Hence, our study demonstrates that IGHR‐CLLs have a distinct mutational profile from the majority of CLLs and highlights the relevance of incorporating NGS and the status of IGH by FISH analysis to refine the risk‐stratification CLL model.
What's new?
The prognostic significance of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) translocation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is controversial and its mutational profile remains unknown. Here, the authors assessed for the first time the genetic landscape of CLL patients with IGH rearrangements by targeted next‐generation sequencing, characterising recurrently‐mutated genes with prognostic implications and demonstrating that these entities exhibit an intermediate mutational profile between CLL and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Moreover, the findings showed that the incorporation of next‐generation sequencing and the IGH‐probe in the CLL‐fluorescence in situ hybridisation panel used in clinical routine could be useful, especially for elucidating prognosis in normal FISH cases.
Knowledge of thermodynamics and phase equilibria of oxidic materials is crucial for advancement in the field of ceramics and glass. With the development of computational thermodynamics, predicting ...phase diagrams and chemical reactions of multicomponent systems has become possible. However, there are still plenty of oxides, the thermodynamic properties of which have not been identified due to the challenges in conducting experiments. Therefore, a key to the advancement in thermodynamic modeling would be to develop a universal model that can be used to estimate the thermodynamic properties of oxides with reliable extrapolation capacity. Atomistic (or molecular) scale models are still insufficient in predicting the thermodynamic properties of oxides at any scale. Alternatively, among group contribution–based methods, the polyhedron model has presented its potential in the estimation of the thermodynamic properties of ionic crystals. However, this model still demands improvements that increase the model's accuracy and extrapolation capacity. In this paper, the background and the state‐of‐the‐art of polyhedron model will be presented together with its strengths and shortcomings. Subsequently, it will be briefly discussed how the field of artificial intelligence could be exploited to devise the next generation of the polyhedron model, the modified polyhedron model.
The aim of this paper is to study the role of socially responsible activities on shareholder value creation in a sample of 166 banks from 31 countries over the 2010–2015 period. Prior research about ...this relationship is scarce and limited to the period before and during the global financial crisis. In contrast, this research analyzes banks over a period of time when these institutions have increased their social responsibility practices in order to reinforce their credibility and the trust their stakeholders have in them. More precisely, we analyze the relationship between these two magnitudes distinguishing between environmental, social, and corporate governance actions as well as between countries taking into account the level of development, legal systems, and the geographic area. Our findings are relevant not only for academics, but also for the managers of these companies, policymakers, investors, and society in general.
Abstract
Aims
Same-day discharge (SDD) is feasible after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). We aim to compare prospectively cryoballoon (CRYO) vs. radiofrequency (RF) ablation in a systematic SDD ...programme.
Methods and results
We prospectively analysed the 617 scheduled PVI performed consecutively at our institution (n = 377 CRYO, n = 240 RF) from 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2022 within a systematic programme of SDD. The feasibility of SDD, the 10-day incidence of urgent/unplanned medical care after discharge (UUC-10), and the cost per procedure due to hospital resource use were studied. The 100 procedures performed during the previous year, in which patients were systematically hospitalized, were used as a control group. Same-day discharge was achieved in 585/617 (95%) procedures, with a significant trend towards a higher monthly SDD rate from 2019 to 2022 (P = 0.03). The frequency of SDD was similar in CRYO (356/377; 94%) vs. RF (229/240; 95%). After SDD, the UUC-10 was 66/585 (11.3%), being similar for CRYO (41/356; 11.5%) and RF (25/229; 10.9%); P = 0.8 (log-rank test). Of these, 10 patients were re-hospitalized, with an identical rate in CRYO-treated (6/356; 1.7%) and RF-treated (4/229; 1.7%) patients and owing to similar causes (4 haematomas, 4 pericarditis, and 2 symptomatic sinus node dysfunction). Same-day discharge was associated with an average savings per procedure of 63% (P < 0.001), but no differences were found between the CRYO and RF (P = 0.8).
Conclusion
In a systematic SDD programme, feasibility (95%, increasing over time), safety (11% UUC-10, 1.7% re-hospitalizations), and savings (63% per procedure) were similar for CRYO and RF ablation procedures.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Clinical and economic outcomes of a systematic same-day discharge strategy after atrial fibrillation ablation.
The effects of metal doping (M = Cu, Ag and Eu) were investigated in nanostructured (M-TiO2) with the objectives to define the location of metal ions in the host matrices, identifying their stable ...valence states and environments as well as the incidence on the structural, electronic and optical properties of M-TiO2. Sol-gel method was used for the synthesis based on the reactants as metal-acetate and titanium alkoxide with defined experimental conditions to achieve the formation of nanostructured anatase phase with metallic doping ratios about 1, 2 and 3 mol.%. The investigations of doped structures were carried out by using x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) which contributes to precise insights on the metal behavior in M-TiO2. Correlations of the metal states such as the stable valence and local environments were made with the crystalline domains sizes, stability of anatase phase, electrical conductivity and optical features of the different M-TiO2 samples. The photocatalytic activity of 3 mol.% doped structures was compared through a heterogeneous photocatalysis carried out for the degradation of organic dyes in solutions under Xe-source irradiation. The efficiency of this process was discussed as function of the doping peculiarities.
Metal doping of TiO2 by Cu, Ag and Eu leads to the formation of different configurations for the metal environments as function of the metallic element and contribute to modulate the photoinduced electronic and optical responses of the doped structures. Display omitted
•The work reports a consistent analysis on the physical features of metal doped TiO2 by using Cu, Ag and Eu devoted to realize efficient photocatalysts.
Purpose To redesign the spare parts (MRO) inventory management at Company XYZ's warehouse, considering the conditions after the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach To address this research ...project, the authors integrated three methodologies: action research, Lean Six Sigma (DMAIC) and Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining. These methodologies integrated the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) 4.0 framework applied in this project. Findings The spare parts inventory value was reduced by 15%, and inventory turnover increased by 120% without negatively impacting the internal service level. Practical implications Practitioners leading or participating in continuous improvement projects (CIPs) should consider data quality (data available and data trustworthiness), problem-solving approach and target area involvement to achieve CIP goals. Otherwise, the LSS 4.0 could fail or extend its duration by several weeks or months. Originality/value This project shows the importance of controlling a target area before deciding to conduct a LSS 4.0 project. To address this problem, the LSS 4.0 team implemented 5S during the measure phase of the DMAIC. Also, this project offers significant practitioner and theoretical contributions to the body of knowledge about LSS 4.0.
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