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Abstract Transdisciplinary research knits together knowledge from diverse epistemic communities in addressing social-environmental challenges, such as biodiversity loss, climate crises, food insecurity, and public health. This article reflects on the roles of philosophy of science in transdisciplinary research while focusing on Indigenous and other subjugated forms of knowledge. We offer a critical assessment of demarcationist approaches in philosophy of science and outline a constructive alternative of transdisciplinary philosophy of science. While a focus on demarcation obscures the complex relations between epistemic communities, transdisciplinary philosophy of science provides resources for meeting epistemic and political challenges of collaborative knowledge production. 

Abstract The Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI) was relocated to the Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5 m telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO) in early 2022. Here we present results from the first year of observations along with an updated instrument description for DSSI at APO, including a detailed description of a new internal slit mask assembly used to measure the instrument plate scale from first principles. Astrometric precision for DSSI at APO during this time was measured to be 2.06 ± 0.11 mas, with a photometric precision of 0.14 ± 0.04 mag. Results of 40 resolved binary systems are reported, including two that were previously unknown to be binaries: HIP 7535 and HIP 9603. We also present updated orbital fits for two systems: HIP 93903 and HIP 100714. Finally, we report updated or confirmed dispositions for five Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs) that were previously explored in Colton et al., using speckle imaging to discern common proper motions pairs from line of sight companions: KOI-270, KOI-959, KOI-1613, KOI-1962, and KOI-3214AB. 

Introgression of beneficial alleles has emerged as an important avenue for genetic adaptation in both plant and animal populations. In vertebrates, adaptation to hypoxic high-altitude environments involves the coordination of multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms, including selection on the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway and the blood-O2 transport protein hemoglobin (Hb). In two Andean duck species, a striking DNA sequence similarity reflecting identity by descent is present across the ~20 kb β-globin cluster including both embryonic (HBE) and adult (HBB) paralogs, though it was yet untested whether this is due to independent parallel evolution or adaptive introgression. In this study, we find that identical amino acid substitutions in the β-globin cluster that increase Hb-O2 affinity have likely resulted from historical interbreeding between high-altitude populations of two different distantly-related species. We examined the direction of introgression and discovered that the species with a deeper mtDNA divergence that colonized high altitude earlier in history (Anas flavirostris) transferred adaptive genetic variation to the species with a shallower divergence (A. georgica) that likely colonized high altitude more recently possibly following a range shift into a novel environment. As a consequence, the species that received these β-globin variants through hybridization might have adapted to hypoxic conditions in the high-altitude environment more quickly through acquiring beneficial alleles from the standing, hybrid-origin variation, leading to faster evolution. 

BackgroundHealthy articular cartilage presents structural gradients defined by distinct zonal patterns through the thickness, which may be disrupted in the pathogenesis of several disorders. Analysis of textural patterns using quantitative MRI data may identify structural gradients of healthy or degenerating tissue that correlate with early osteoarthritis (OA). PurposeTo quantify spatial gradients and patterns in MRI data, and to probe new candidate biomarkers for early severity of OA. Study TypeRetrospective study. SubjectsFourteen volunteers receiving total knee replacement surgery (eight males/two females/four unknown, average age ± standard deviation: 68.1 ± 9.6 years) and 10 patients from the OA Initiative (OAI) with radiographic OA onset (two males/eight females, average age ± standard deviation: 57.7 ± 9.4 years; initial Kellgren‐Lawrence [KL] grade: 0; final KL grade: 3 over the 10‐year study). Field Strength/Sequence3.0‐T and 14.1‐T, biomechanics‐based displacement‐encoded imaging, fast spin echo, multi‐slice multi‐echoT2mapping. AssessmentWe studied structure and strain in cartilage explants from volunteers receiving total knee replacement, or structure in cartilage of OAI patients with progressive OA. We calculated spatial gradients of quantitative MRI measures (eg, T2) normal to the cartilage surface to enhance zonal variations. We compared gradient values against histologically OA severity, conventional relaxometry, and/or KL grades. Statistical TestsMultiparametric linear regression for evaluation of the relationship between residuals of the mixed effects models and histologically determined OA severity scoring, with a significance threshold atα = 0.05. ResultsGradients of individual relaxometry and biomechanics measures significantly correlated with OA severity, outperforming conventional relaxometry and strain metrics. In human explants, analysis of spatial gradients provided the strongest relationship to OA severity (R² = 0.627). Spatial gradients of T2 from OAI data identified variations in radiographic (KL Grade 2) OA severity in single subjects, while conventional T2 alone did not. Data ConclusionSpatial gradients of quantitative MRI data may improve the predictive power of noninvasive imaging for early‐stage degeneration. Evidence Level1 Technical EfficacyStage 1