Pollen metabarcoding reveals the origin and multigenerational migratory pathway of an intercontinental-scale butterfly outbreak.

Migratory insects may move in large numbers, even surpassing migratory vertebrates in biomass. Long-distance migratory insects complete annual cycles through multiple generations, with each generation's reproductive success linked to the resources available at different breeding grounds. Climatic anomalies in these grounds are presumed to trigger rapid population outbreaks. Here, we infer the origin and track the multigenerational path of a remarkable outbreak of painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies that took place at an intercontinental scale in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from March 2019 to November 2019. Using metabarcoding, we identified pollen transported by 264 butterflies captured in 10 countries over 7 months and modeled the distribution of the 398 plants detected. The analysis showed that swarms collected in Eastern Europe in early spring originated in Arabia and the Middle East, coinciding with a positive anomaly in vegetation growth in the region from November 2018 to April 2019. From there, the swarms advanced to Northern Europe during late spring, followed by an early reversal toward southwestern Europe in summer. The pollen-based evidence matched spatiotemporal abundance peaks revealed by citizen science, which also suggested an echo effect of the outbreak in West Africa during September-November. Our results show that population outbreaks in a part of species' migratory ranges may disseminate demographic effects across multiple generations in a wide geographic area. This study represents an unprecedented effort to track a continuous multigenerational insect migration on an intercontinental scale.

A trans-oceanic flight of over 4,200 km by painted lady butterflies.

The extent of aerial flows of insects circulating around the planet and their impact on ecosystems and biogeography remain enigmatic because of methodological challenges. Here we report a transatlantic crossing by Vanessa cardui butterflies spanning at least 4200 km, from West Africa to South America (French Guiana) and lasting between 5 and 8 days. Even more, we infer a likely natal origin for these individuals in Western Europe, and the journey Europe-Africa-South America could expand to 7000 km or more. This discovery was possible through an integrative approach, including coastal field surveys, wind trajectory modelling, genomics, pollen metabarcoding, ecological niche modelling, and multi-isotope geolocation of natal origins. The overall journey, which was energetically feasible only if assisted by winds, is among the longest documented for individual insects, and potentially the first verified transatlantic crossing. Our findings suggest that we may be underestimating transoceanic dispersal in insects and highlight the importance of aerial highways connecting continents by trade winds.

Mercury bioaccumulation and its relationship with trophic biomarkers in a Mediterranean elasmobranch mesopredator.

Human activity has led to increased concentrations of mercury (Hg) in the world's oceans. Mercury can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in animal tissues via trophic transfer, thus, becoming most pronounced in larger and older predators. Here, we measured Hg concentrations and their relationship with stable isotopes-based proxies of trophic level (δ13C and δ15N values) in multiple tissues of Mustelus spp. from the Mediterranean Sea. We found higher Hg concentrations in muscle than in liver and fin tissues. The relationship between Hg concentrations and δ15N values in muscle suggested repeated foraging for low trophic level and Hg-poor prey, and biomagnification of Hg at higher trophic levels. Seasonal variations in δ13C values could indicate shifts in primary production sources and/or in local prey availability. The HBVSe index suggested no risk to human health, however the safe meal limit recommendations are 4.5 and 2.2 portions per month for adults and children, respectively.

Response to Genovesi et al.: Ant biosurveillance should come before invasion.

Menchetti et al. respond to the letter of Genovesi et al. and contribute new records of the red imported fire ant in Sicily.

The invasive ant Solenopsis invicta is established in Europe.

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is classified as one of the worst invasive alien species1 and as the fifth costliest worldwide2, impacting ecosystems, agriculture and human health3. We report the establishment of S. invicta in Europe for the first time, documenting a mature population in Sicily. We use genetic analyses to assess its putative origin, as well as wind tracking and species distribution modelling to predict its potential range on the continent. We show that half of the urban areas in Europe are already suitable and that climate warming expected under current trends will favor the expansion of this invasive ant.

Robust imaging habitat computation using voxel-wise radiomics features.

Tumor heterogeneity has been postulated as a hallmark of treatment resistance and a cure constraint in cancer patients. Conventional quantitative medical imaging (radiomics) can be extended to computing voxel-wise features and aggregating tumor subregions with similar radiological phenotypes (imaging habitats) to elucidate the distribution of tumor heterogeneity within and among tumors. Despite the promising applications of imaging habitats, they may be affected by variability of radiomics features, preventing comparison and generalization of imaging habitats techniques. We performed a comprehensive repeatability and reproducibility analysis of voxel-wise radiomics features in more than 500 lung cancer patients with computed tomography (CT) images and demonstrated the effect of voxel-wise radiomics variability on imaging habitats computation in 30 lung cancer patients with test-retest images. Repeatable voxel-wise features characterized texture heterogeneity and were reproducible regardless of the applied feature extraction parameters. Imaging habitats computed using robust radiomics features were more stable than those computed using all features in test-retest CTs from the same patient. Nine voxel-wise radiomics features (joint energy, joint entropy, sum entropy, maximum probability, difference entropy, Imc1, Imc2, Idn and Idmn) were repeatable and reproducible. This supports their application for computing imaging habitats in lung tumors towards the discovery of previously unseen tumor heterogeneity and the development of novel non-invasive imaging biomarkers for precision medicine.

Análisis de variables relacionadas con el índice de deterioro cognitivo del wais en un grupo de pacientes con epilepsia / Analysis of variables related to the cognitive deterioration degree of wais in a group of patients suffering from epilepsy

Se estudió un grupo de 125 pacientes epilépticos con el propósito de conocer la existencia de índice de deterioro cognitivo positivo y la relación del deterioro con un conjunto de variables multicausales (biológicas, sociales y medicamentosas). Se aplicó el índice de deterioro de Weshcler del cuestionario de epilepsia a los pacientes en estudio, los cuales fueron divididos en 2 grupos: los que tenían deterioro cognitivo y los que no lo tenían. Los datos se procesaron con estadígrafos como Fisher, Chi-cuadrado, Odds Ratio, y análisis estadístico multivariado (ANOVA). El deterioro se presentó en el 29 por ciento de los pacientes estudiados; en más del 80 por ciento de los pacientes con epilepsia y alcoholismo (Fisher p = 0,012 diferencia significativa y Odds Ratio = 6,532); en el 68 por ciento de los que tenían elevada frecuencia de crisis (p = 0,0014 Odds Ratio = 8,075); en el 83 por ciento de los que tenían psicosis asociada (p = 0,0126 Odds Ratio = 6,531); en más del 60 por ciento de los que tomaban fenitoína (Anova p = 0,0082) y en los que la tomaban de forma combinada con carbamazepina (p = 0,0210 Odds Ratio = 27,00). La tercera parte de los pacientes con epilepsia presentan deterioro cognitivo. La epilepsia asociada al alcoholismo y la elevada frecuencia de crisis son los factores biológicos más deteriorantes. La psicosis asociada a epilepsia tiene alta incidencia de deterioro. La fenitoína es el FAE que produce más deterioro y su uso unido a la carbamazepina no es recomendado.

Based on a research study done on a group of patients suffering from epilepsy the existance of positive cognitive deterioration and its relationship with a multicausal group of variables were found out. For this study we used Wechsier’s Deterioration Indicator applied on 125 patients suffering from epilepsy.These patients were classified into two groups: the ones suffering from positive deterioration and the ones that were not. The relationship between deterioration and multicausual factors ( biological, social and those due to medication) was established. Data were processed with the use of stadigraphs such as Fisher, Chi - cuadrado, Odds Ratio and Multivaried Statistical Analysis (ANOVA) . Deterioration was present in 29 percent of the studied patients. In more than 80 percent of the patients suffering from epilepsy and alcoholism ( Fisher p=0.012 significant difference and Odds Ratio =6.532), in 68 percent of the patients suffering from high frequency crisis ( p=0.0014 Odds Ratio =8.075). In 83 percent of the patients suffering from associated psychosis (p=0.0126, Odds Ratio =6.531), in more than 60 percent of the patients that were administered Fenitoine (ANOVA p= 0.0082) and in the ones that were administered Carbamazepine combined with Fenitoine (p= 0.0210 Odds Ratio = 27.00). A third of the patients suffering from epilepsy present deterioration. Epilepsy associated to alcoholism and a high frequency crisis are the biological factors more deteriorating; also psychosis associated to epilepsy presents a high rate of it. The antiepeliptic pharmac (FAE) that produces more deterioration and it is not recommended to administer together with carbamazepine is Fenitoine.

Análisis de variables relacionadas con el índice de deterioro cognitivo del wais en un grupo de pacientes con epilepsia / Analysis of variables related to the cognitive deterioration degree of wais in a group of patients suffering from epilepsy

Se estudió un grupo de 125 pacientes epilépticos con el propósito de conocer la existencia de índice de deterioro cognitivo positivo y la relación del deterioro con un conjunto de variables multicausales (biológicas, sociales y medicamentosas). Se aplicó el índice de deterioro de Weshcler del cuestionario de epilepsia a los pacientes en estudio, los cuales fueron divididos en 2 grupos: los que tenían deterioro cognitivo y los que no lo tenían. Los datos se procesaron con estadígrafos como Fisher, Chi-cuadrado, Odds Ratio, y análisis estadístico multivariado (ANOVA). El deterioro se presentó en el 29 por ciento de los pacientes estudiados; en más del 80 por ciento de los pacientes con epilepsia y alcoholismo (Fisher p = 0,012 diferencia significativa y Odds Ratio = 6,532); en el 68 por ciento de los que tenían elevada frecuencia de crisis (p = 0,0014 Odds Ratio = 8,075); en el 83 por ciento de los que tenían psicosis asociada (p = 0,0126 Odds Ratio = 6,531); en más del 60 por ciento de los que tomaban fenitoína (Anova p = 0,0082) y en los que la tomaban de forma combinada con carbamazepina (p = 0,0210 Odds Ratio = 27,00). La tercera parte de los pacientes con epilepsia presentan deterioro cognitivo. La epilepsia asociada al alcoholismo y la elevada frecuencia de crisis son los factores biológicos más deteriorantes. La psicosis asociada a epilepsia tiene alta incidencia de deterioro. La fenitoína es el FAE que produce más deterioro y su uso unido a la carbamazepina no es recomendado(AU)

Based on a research study done on a group of patients suffering from epilepsy the existance of positive cognitive deterioration and its relationship with a multicausal group of variables were found out. For this study we used Wechsiers Deterioration Indicator applied on 125 patients suffering from epilepsy.These patients were classified into two groups: the ones suffering from positive deterioration and the ones that were not. The relationship between deterioration and multicausual factors ( biological, social and those due to medication) was established. Data were processed with the use of stadigraphs such as Fisher, Chi - cuadrado, Odds Ratio and Multivaried Statistical Analysis (ANOVA) . Deterioration was present in 29 percent of the studied patients. In more than 80 percent of the patients suffering from epilepsy and alcoholism ( Fisher p=0.012 significant difference and Odds Ratio =6.532), in 68 percent of the patients suffering from high frequency crisis ( p=0.0014 Odds Ratio =8.075). In 83 percent of the patients suffering from associated psychosis (p=0.0126, Odds Ratio =6.531), in more than 60 percent of the patients that were administered Fenitoine (ANOVA p= 0.0082) and in the ones that were administered Carbamazepine combined with Fenitoine (p= 0.0210 Odds Ratio = 27.00). A third of the patients suffering from epilepsy present deterioration. Epilepsy associated to alcoholism and a high frequency crisis are the biological factors more deteriorating; also psychosis associated to epilepsy presents a high rate of it. The antiepeliptic pharmac (FAE) that produces more deterioration and it is not recommended to administer together with carbamazepine is Fenitoine(AU)

La cistouretropexia centrolateral: comunicación preliminar / Centrolateral cistouretropexy: prelimminary communication

Se presenta una técnica sencilla para la cura de incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo, realizada en 10 pacientes con buenos resultados. En todos los casos fue una cirugía complementaria de otras operaciones ginecológicas, especialmente la histerectomía y la cura de prolapso