Article
Clinical Neurology
Minami Naito, Masaki Kato, Yosuke Koshikawa, Hiroki Bandou, Shiho Sakai, Yoshiteru Takekita, Keiichiro Nishida, Toshihiko Kinoshita
Summary: This study investigated the influence of personality traits on the treatment response to antidepressants in patients with depression. The results showed that neuroticism had a significant impact on treatment outcomes. Depending on the degree of neuroticism, patients had different remission rates when using different antidepressant medications. Therefore, measuring personality traits at the beginning of treatment could help select more appropriate antidepressants and predict the time to remission.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Thomas Lemarcis, Alexander E. Fedosov, Yuri Kantor, Jawad Abdelkrim, Paul Zaharias, Nicolas Puillandre
Summary: The Neogastropoda, including several model organisms, have unresolved phylogenetic relationships and unstable classification. In this study, a new molecular phylogeny of the neogastropods was constructed using mitogenomes from GenBank. The study revealed new relationships but also highlighted the need for additional data to revise the classification. Furthermore, the study showed the challenges of using complex models to handle the evolutionary history of mitogenomes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angelo Bisazza, Elia Gatto
Summary: The study examines the ability of invertebrates to discriminate quantities, focusing on whether dune snails prefer larger groups of shelters. Results show that snails' acuity in discriminating quantity of shelters is comparable to that of mammals and birds, indicating that natural selection may have driven the evolution of advanced cognitive abilities in these small-brained animals.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
L. Kolding, V Ehrenstein, L. Pedersen, P. Sandager, O. B. Petersen, N. Uldbjerg, L. H. Pedersen
Summary: The study shows that exposure to venlafaxine is associated with an increased risk of cardiac malformations, but the absolute risk is low. Potential mechanisms include direct effects or confounding by indication. Venlafaxine exposure may serve as a marker for high-risk pregnancies that may benefit from fetal echocardiography.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qiang Guan, Haitao Wu, Lei Xu, Yujuan Kang, Kangle Lu, Dandan Liu, Dandan Han, Zhenshan Xue, Yuxiang Yuan, Wenfeng Wang, Zhongsheng Zhang
Summary: The effects of longitudinal connectivity on the diversity of freshwater snails in river floodplain wetlands are well understood, but the effects of lateral connectivity are less evaluated. This study assessed the impact of lateral and longitudinal connectivity on multiple facets of snail diversity in floodplain wetlands in the Da Xing'an Mountains of Northeast China. The results showed significant effects of the gradients of lateral and longitudinal connectivity on the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic structures of snail assemblages. Water and climate variables played important roles in explaining the variations in snail diversity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Psychiatry
Julia C. Stingl
Summary: Antidepressants may have a protective effect against COVID-19 infection, especially in psychiatric patients, adding to the evidence of their potential benefits in repurposing conditions to combat the disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hoda H. Abd-El Azeem, Gamalat Y. Osman, Hesham R. El-Seedi, Ahmed M. Fallatah, Shaden A. M. Khalifa, Mohamed M. Gharib
Summary: This study analyzed the composition of soft tissue extracts from Helix aspersa using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and evaluated their antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. The results showed that certain components of the soft tissue extracts exhibited significant antifungal effects.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Fabrizio Stocchi, Paolo Barone, Giuseppe Bellelli, Andrea Fagiolini, Luigi Ferini Strambi, Sandro Sorbi, Alessandro Padovani
Summary: The diagnosis of depression in Parkinson's disease is challenging due to overlapping symptoms. A panel of Italian specialists reached a consensus that depression is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease, with neuropathological abnormalities playing a role. Multimodal and SSRI antidepressants are confirmed as effective options for treating depression in Parkinson's disease.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Tao Xu, Lu Qi, Lingfeng Kong, Qi Li
Summary: This study sequenced 10 new mitochondrial genomes and analyzed them with previously published nine mitogenomes and six transcriptomic data representing six families of Patellogastropoda. Based on amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes, a well-supported phylogeny was reconstructed, revealing Lottioidea as non-monophyletic with two well-supported lineages. Comparison of gene order among families, genera and species showed that Nacellidae has a conserved gene arrangement, while Lottiidae exhibits extensive rearrangements.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yunan Wang, Peizhen Ma, Zhen Zhang, Cui Li, Yumeng Liu, Ya Chen, Jiahui Wang, Haiyan Wang, Hao Song
Summary: The mitochondrial genome of Entemnotrochus rumphii, a representative species from the isolated lineage of Pleurotomarioidea, displays a high level of conservation in gene arrangement within Vetigastropoda, shedding light on the evolutionary history of molluscs.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Oleg O. Glebov, Christoph Mueller, Robert Stewart, Dag Aarsland, Gayan Perera
Summary: A retrospective study found that antidepressant drugs, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. However, the study was limited to a cohort of mental health outpatients and further prospective studies are needed to validate their potential preventative effect.
Article
Zoology
Nicolas Cetra, Andera Roche
Summary: This article introduces the San Matias gulf in Argentinean Patagonia as a marine biodiversity hotspot and focuses on the study of nudibranchs. The research identifies 15 species of nudibranchs, including two new family records for Argentina: Coryphellidae and Dotidae. Additionally, the study expands the known geographic range of five species and records the presence of warm water species such as Doto uva and Coryphella cf. verta in the area. The distribution range of Rostanga pulchra and Diaulula hispida also extends to the north of Argentine Patagonia.
Article
Zoology
Julie Innabi, Carla C. Stout, Angel Valdes
Summary: A study of well-preserved discodorid nudibranchs collected in Koumac, New Caledonia, discovered seven new species belonging to the genera Atagema, Jorunna, Rostanga, and Sclerodoris. However, the generic assignments are tentative due to an unresolved phylogeny of Discodoridi-dae. The paper emphasizes the significance of comprehensive collecting efforts in identifying and documenting well-camouflaged taxa.
Article
Zoology
Maria Isabel P. F. Macedo, Ximena M. C. Ovando, Sthefane D'avila
Summary: This study describes the internal anatomy of the land snail species Leiostracus obliquus and updates its distribution based on well-preserved specimens. Comparisons with another species, L. carnavalescus, reveal significant similarities in morphology and color pattern.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Mehmet Kemal Arikan, Reyhan Ilhan, Oliver Pogarell, Baris Metin
Summary: Currently, there is no clear answer regarding the duration of antidepressant use or when it can be safely discontinued. A systematic review of 37 double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials found that antidepressants were superior to placebo in preventing relapse during the follow-up phase. However, the duration of treatment was not related to the effect size, suggesting that long-term use may not be justified and may pose risks of adverse effects.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Thomas Knigge, Gerald A. LeBlanc, Alex T. Ford
Summary: Crustaceans, with their unique physiology such as moulting, color-changing ability, and multiple sexual differentiation strategies, have an endocrine system that differs from vertebrates and other invertebrates. Chemicals disrupting endocrine processes in vertebrates may not have the same effect on crustaceans, and vice versa. It is important to assess endocrine disruption in crustaceans based on their unique system, rather than considering vertebrate systems.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Marina Tenorio Botelho, Neil Fuller, Monizze Vannuci-Silva, Gongda Yang, Kara Richardson, Alex T. Ford
Summary: This study compared sperm quality/quantity in amphipods collected from six UK locations with varying water quality, finding that some sites had lower sperm counts compared to a nationally protected conservation area. Additionally, unknown reproductive stressors may impact E. marinas, an important food source for wading birds in Langstone Harbour, potentially related to agricultural runoff, landfill leachate, and storm water effluent.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alex T. Ford, Marlene Agerstrand, Bryan W. Brooks, Joel Allen, Michael G. Bertram, Tomas Brodin, ZhiChao Dang, Sabine Duquesne, Rene Sahm, Frauke Hoffmann, Henner Hollert, Stefanie Jacob, Nils Kluever, James M. Lazorchak, Mariana Ledesma, Steven D. Melvin, Silvia Mohr, Stephanie Padilla, Gregory G. Pyle, Stefan Scholz, Minna Saaristo, Els Smit, Jeffery A. Steevens, Sanne van den Berg, Werner Kloas, Bob B. M. Wong, Michael Ziegler, Gerd Maack
Summary: Chemicals have long been acknowledged to impact human and wildlife behavior. Recent technological advancements have highlighted the adverse effects of contaminants on organismal behavior and ecological outcomes. Concerns about the lack of consideration of behavior in regulatory ecotoxicology have led to the exclusion of many studies from chemical risk assessments. A workshop with international representatives has resulted in consensus perspectives and recommendations to improve the integration of basic and translational sciences with regulatory practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Neil Fuller, Jim T. Smith, Tsugiko Takase, Alex T. Ford, Toshihiro Wada
Summary: The study focused on assessing radiocaesium accumulation and developmental effects on Japanese mitten crabs in highly contaminated areas near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station. Results showed significantly higher radiocaesium concentrations in crabs compared to Japanese standard limits, but there were no observed developmental abnormalities. Estimated dose rates were below proposed regulatory limits.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jason Henry, Yutao Bai, Daniel Williams, Adrian Logozzo, Alex Ford, Donald Wlodkowic
Summary: In this article, the authors investigate how the geometry, size, opacity, and depth of test chambers affect the behavioral responses in Artemia franciscana. They find that these factors can modulate the spontaneous behavioral responses of the larval stages of A. franciscana. The authors also observe that A. franciscana exhibits preferences for color and depth, and these preferences can be altered with photic stimulus.
Article
Environmental Sciences
I Martins, A. Guerra, N. Leite, E. Constantino, M. I. Ilarri, A. T. Souza, M. M. Santos, A. T. Ford, J. Campos
Summary: Research on amphipod populations in different estuaries in Portugal suggests that anthropogenic pressure can impact biomass and fitness. The study found that the species responds to microhabitat conditions, showing significant differences between estuaries and sites. Although the Ave estuary, with higher expected impacts, had the lowest production, the highest production was actually found in the Mondego estuary.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucy S. Martin, J. Reuben Shipway, Marc A. Martin, Graham P. Malyon, Mou Akter, Simon M. Cragg
Summary: Wood-boring invertebrates cause significant damage to marine timbers and coastal infrastructure. Due to restrictions on broad spectrum biocides, there is a need for research on naturally durable timber species and novel preservation methods. Laboratory testing offers advantages over costly and long-term marine field trials for investigating durable timber species or wood preservative treatments. The crustacean Limnoria is an ideal species for laboratory testing of wood biodegradation, as they can be easily reared in aquaria and their feeding rates on wood can be measured.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
I. Martins, A. Guerra, N. Leite, E. Constantino, M. I. Ilarri, A. T. Souza, M. M. Santos, A. T. Ford, J. Campos
Summary: This article provides data on the population characteristics of the amphipod Echinogammarus marinus in estuaries under different levels of anthropogenic pressure, including density, biomass, fecundity, and production. These data can be used to compare population traits across different estuaries and provide insights for coastal system management, habitat conservation, and restoration.
Article
Biology
Michael G. Bertram, Jake M. Martin, Erin S. McCallum, Lesley A. Alton, Jack A. Brand, Bryan W. Brooks, Daniel Cerveny, Jerker Fick, Alex T. Ford, Gustav Hellstrom, Marcus Michelangeli, Shinichi Nakagawa, Giovanni Polverino, Minna Saaristo, Andrew Sih, Hung Tan, Charles R. Tyler, Bob B. M. Wong, Tomas Brodin
Summary: Animal behavior is highly sensitive to chemical pollution, but current research methods often fail to address the complexity of natural environments. This review aims to guide the development of behavioral ecotoxicology towards increased environmental realism and understanding.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James R. Robbins, Phil J. Bouchet, David L. Miller, Peter G. H. Evans, James Waggitt, Alex T. Ford, Sarah A. Marley
Summary: Maritime traffic is increasing globally, and this study provides a detailed analysis of shipping in the north-east Atlantic region. The study reveals a significant increase in vessel density, with Western Scotland and the Bay of Biscay experiencing the largest increases.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Brett W. W. Molony, Alex T. T. Ford, Ana M. M. Sequeira, Angel Borja, Anna Milena Zivian, Carol Robinson, Christian Lonborg, Elva G. G. Escobar-Briones, Emanuele Di Lorenzo, Jesper H. H. Andersen, Marius N. N. Mueller, Michelle J. J. Devlin, Pierre Failler, Sebastian Villasante, Simone Libralato, Tomaso Fortibuoni
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robin M. H. Rumney, Samuel C. Robson, Alexander P. Kao, Eugen Barbu, Lukasz Bozycki, James R. Smith, Simon M. Cragg, Fay Couceiro, Rachna Parwani, Gianluca Tozzi, Michael Stuer, Asa H. Barber, Alex T. Ford, Dariusz C. Gorecki
Summary: The researchers successfully replicated the developmental process of Limpet teeth and generated new biomimetic structures through ex vivo experiments and cell cultures. Transcriptomic analysis revealed changes in gene expression related to chitin and iron processing. The findings lay the foundation for the development of biomimetic materials with similar properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lucy C. M. Omeyer, Emily M. Duncan, Kornrawee Aiemsomboon, Nicola Beaumont, Sujaree Bureekul, Bin Cao, Luis R. Carrasco, Suchana Chavanich, James R. Clark, Muhammad R. Cordova, Fay Couceiro, Simon M. Cragg, Neil Dickson, Pierre Failler, Gianluca Ferraro, Stephen Fletcher, Jenny Fong, Alex T. Ford, Tony Gutierrez, Fauziah Shahul Hamid, Jan G. Hiddink, Pham T. Hoa, Sophie I. Holland, Lowenna Jones, Nia H. Jones, Heather Koldewey, Federico M. Lauro, Charlotte Lee, Matt Lewis, Danny Marks, Sabine Matallana-Surget, Claudia G. Mayorga-Adame, John McGeehan, Lauren F. Messer, Laura Michie, Michelle A. Miller, Zeeda F. Mohamad, Nur Hazimah Mohamed Nor, Moritz Miller, Simon P. Neill, Sarah E. Nelms, Deo Florence L. Onda, Joyce J. L. Ong, Agamuthu Pariatamby, Sui C. Phang, Richard Quilliam, Peter E. Robins, Maria Salta, Aida Sartimbul, Shiori Shakuto, Martin W. Skov, Evelyn B. Taboada, Peter A. Todd, Tai Chong Toh, Suresh Valiyaveettil, Voranop Viyakarn, Passorn Wonnapinij, Louisa E. Wood, Clara L. X. Yong, Brendan J. Godley
Summary: Southeast Asia is considered to have high levels of marine plastic pollution, and it is important to understand its impacts and risks to marine ecosystems in order to develop mitigation measures. An international network of experts from various countries has set a research agenda for marine plastic pollution in the region, identifying key themes and research questions. Understanding the fate, degradation, and impacts of marine plastic pollution is crucial for tackling the issue effectively in Southeast Asia and providing insights for the rest of the world.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andreas Schaeffer, Ksenia J. Groh, Gabriel Sigmund, David Azoulay, Thomas Backhaus, Michael G. Bertram, Bethanie Carney Almroth, Ian T. Cousins, Alex T. Ford, Joan O. Grimalt, Yago Guida, Maria C. Hansson, Yunsun Jeong, Rainer Lohmann, David Michaels, Leonie Mueller, Jane Muncke, Gunilla Oberg, Marcos A. Orellana, Edmond Sanganyado, Ralf Bernhard Schaefer, Ishmail Sheriff, Ryan C. Sullivan, Noriyuki Suzuki, Laura N. Vandenberg, Marta Venier, Penny Vlahos, Martin Wagner, Fang Wang, Mengjiao Wang, Anna Soehl, Marlene Agerstrand, Miriam L. Diamond, Martin Scheringer
Summary: Pollution caused by chemicals and waste, along with climate change and biodiversity loss, poses a triple planetary crisis. In response, countries have established an intergovernmental science-policy panel to address chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention. Protecting this panel from conflicts of interest is crucial for its success.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bidemi Green-Ojo, Marina Tenorio Botelho, Gisela de Aragao Umbuzeiro, Vicente Gomes, Mathew O. Parker, Lena Grinsted, Alex T. Ford
Summary: This study examines the impact of plastic additives on the reproductive behavior and fertility of marine amphipods. The findings show that certain plastic additives can disrupt the mating behavior of amphipods, decrease the success rate of pairing, and reduce sperm counts. The study highlights the potential harm of plastic additives to aquatic organisms and emphasizes the need for proactive measures to mitigate population-level effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
