Beyond Social Impact: The Value of Science for Society (A Comment on Ochsner)

Abstract The following text is a brief commentary on Michael Ochsner's article “The Mis‐conceptualisation of Societal Impact: Why the Swiss Approach to Societal Impact is Productive and not Inexistent” in this special issue. It makes three points about the concept of social impact. The first point questions the appropriateness of the concept of social impact for assessing the value of research to society. The second point concerns the balance between creativity and research limits and between research freedom and responsibility to society. Finally, I look at the implications of information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence in assessing the value of research to society.

Natural grassland conversion to agriculture or pine plantations: Effects on soil methane uptake

Abstract Upland soils are the only known biological sink for methane (CH 4 ) by methanotrophic bacteria consumption. This process is mainly limited by the diffusion processes related to the soil's physical characteristics, which can be modified because of changes in land use depending on the soil type, the original system and the new land use converted. Our study focused on determining the differences in soil CH 4 uptake because of changes in land use (from natural grassland to agricultural land and two Pinus radiata afforestation, differing in thinning management) and on determining which are the main drivers that control CH 4 uptake in the studied soil type (Hapludoll), with focus on the diffusion process. CH 4 fluxes were measured 12 times with the static chamber technique between October 2015 and April 2019. Also, CH 4 gradient concentration in the soil profile and physical and chemical variables were measured on the same dates. All land uses studied acted as net CH 4 sinks. Land‐use change from grassland to agriculture decreased soil CH 4 uptake (~37% ± 19), whereas afforestation increased (~85% ± 73) this environmental service related to natural grassland. We found that the main drivers that control CH 4 uptake in this soil are water and air‐filled pore space, variables that govern soil CH 4 diffusion; they are mostly related to differences in bulk density (compaction) among land uses. Organic matter was also an important driver, mainly related to soil structure. Land‐use change affected all of these drivers. CH 4 concentration presented differences at deeper soil layers only in the two afforestations, which differed in management (pruning and thinning vs. no management). However, CH 4 uptake did not present significant differences between them, suggesting that there is no need for a high tree cover to increase the CH 4 sink of the soil. This mixed tree and herbaceous cover may result in a similar environmental service output, increasing the options of land uses.

Excess mortality among kidney transplant recipients: Impact of COVID‐19‐related deaths during the pandemic

Background Because COVID‐19 has been associated with high lethality rates among kidney transplant recipients (KTR), but also with a severe disruption and delays in overall healthcare, this study aims to evaluate the excess mortality in the pandemic era among KTR in a high‐volume Brazilian transplant center. Methods This study used data from a single center that provides follow‐up on all its transplant recipients. The population of interest included all the patients who were transplanted between August 31, 1983 and December 31, 2022 and who were live from January 1, 2014. Using the “AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average” forecasting algorithm, the expected mortality for the pandemic era (2020–2022) was modeled from the pre‐pandemic era (2014–2019). Results There were 12 077 KTRs at risk of dying in the entire observation period. In the pre‐pandemic era, there were 21 deaths per 1000 patients at risk. In the pandemic era, there were 1429 observed deaths (rate of 47 deaths per 1000 patients at risk) versus the expected 587 deaths, resulting in an absolute number of 842 excess deaths, or an observed‐to‐expected ratio of 2.4, or an absolute rate of 26 deaths in excess per 1000 patients at risk. The excess deaths exhibited a temporal pattern mirroring that of the surges in new cases and lethality rates of COVID‐19. COVID‐19‐related deaths drove 94% of excess mortality in the pandemic era. Conclusion In this large cohort of KTR under centralized follow‐up, more than twofold excess mortality was primarily driven by COVID‐19‐related deaths, highlighting the vulnerability of this population to the most severe presentation of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Anatomically guided full arch implant-prosthetic rehabilitations

Anatomically guided full arch implant-prosthetic rehabilitations

Real-world Safety and Effectiveness of Sotrovimab in Japanese Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Final Report of General Drug Use Investigation

The origins of mammal growth patterns during the Jurassic mammalian radiation

Deep-ultraviolet transparent conducting SrSnO 3 via heterostructure design

Complete genome sequence of three Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from patients with skin diseases in Japan

SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys ( Ateles fusciceps ) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America