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Abstract Same‐sex sexual behavior occurs in diverse animal taxa, yet its evolutionary maintenance is poorly understood as such behavior seems to be costly and does not directly increase reproductive success. We used male Tribolium castaneum beetles, which frequently engage in same‐sex copulations, to test if same‐sex sexual behavior influences future male mating behavior and reproductive success of males. Furthermore, we tested whether same‐sex sexual behavior has benefits via indirect sperm translocation. We conducted a series of mating trials demonstrating that males exposed to same‐sex behavior did not sire less offspring compared to control males that did not engage in same‐sex behavior. This suggests that same‐sex copulations did not lead to fitness costs in subsequent mating interactions. In addition, we found no evidence that indirect sperm translocation via an intermediate male occurs in T. castaneum. Taken together, these results imply that same‐sex sexual behavior in males is associated with no costs in terms of lower mating rate and reduced siring success and does not seem to entail benefits. Moreover, our data conform to the hypothesis that sexual indiscrimination is prevalent in this species, which may explain the relatively high frequency of same‐sex sexual behavior in T. castaneum.

In this paper, we present a novel approach for the optimal camera selection in video games. The new approach explores the use of information theoretic metrics f-divergences, to measure the correlation between the objects as viewed in camera frustum and the ideal or target view. The f-divergences considered are the Kullback–Leibler divergence or relative entropy, the total variation and the χ2 divergence. Shannon entropy is also used for comparison purposes. The visibility is measured using the differential form factors from the camera to objects and is computed by casting rays with importance sampling Monte Carlo. Our method allows a very fast dynamic selection of the best viewpoints, which can take into account changes in the scene, in the ideal or target view, and in the objectives of the game. Our prototype is implemented in Unity engine, and our results show an efficient selection of the camera and an improved visual quality. The most discriminating results are obtained with the use of Kullback–Leibler divergence.

ABSTRACTVermicompost tea (VCT) is the effluent or leachate with a honey-brown colour collected during vermicomposting, an ecologically significant process essential to today’s organic and regenerative agriculture. Dried earthworm, a.k.a. dilong (DL, meaning “earth dragon”) in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used as a key component to treat diverse skin diseases, including eczema. In the present study, we hypothesized that VCT might have a positive influence on eczema therapy. It was found that the oral application of 50% VCT in mouse model reduced the ear allergic scores and alleviated the histological changes caused by eczema. Furthermore, the levels of Th2-associated and pro-inflammatory cytokines (namely IL-4 and IL-13 in serum) and IgE (in serum and ear tissues) were significantly reduced by VCT. Therefore, oral administration of 50% VCT exerts immunomodulatory effects on the development of eczema, suggesting its potential as a nutraceutical candidate for eczema treatment.

The Emotional Well-Being and Economic Burden (EMOT-ECON) Research Network is one of six research networks funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance research about emotional well-being (EWB), and the only one that focuses on addressing how economic burden due to disease or illness affects EWB. The network convened researchers, patients, patient advocates, health care providers and other stakeholders from across the US to discuss the significance of addressing the impact of the economic burden of disease on EWB, the complexity of this prevalent problem for patients and families, and the research gaps that still need to be studied to ultimately develop strategies to reduce the impact of economic burden of disease on EWB and health. Participants identified some important future areas of research as those investigating: (i) prevalent and relevant emotions for patients experiencing economic burden of disease and financial hardship, and how their broader outlook on life is impacted; (ii) constructs and contexts that influence whether the economic burden is stressful; (iii) strategies to deal and cope and their positive or negative effects on EWB and health; and (iv) multi-level and multi-stakeholder interventions to address economic factors (e.g., costs, ability to pay), administrative burdens, education and training, and especially patients’ emotional as well as financial status.

Background As partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) rises with the first breath, the ductus arteriosus (DA) constricts, diverting blood flow to the pulmonary circulation. The DA's O2 sensor resides within smooth muscle cells. The DA smooth muscle cells’ mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in proportion to oxygen tension, causing vasoconstriction by regulating redox‐sensitive ion channels and enzymes. To identify which ETC complex contributes most to DA O2 sensing and determine whether ROS mediate O2 sensing independent of metabolism, we used electron leak suppressors, S1QEL (suppressor of site IQ electron leak) and S3QEL (suppressor of site IIIQo electron leak), which decrease ROS production by inhibiting electron leak from quinone sites IQ and IIIQo, respectively. Methods and Results The effects of S1QEL, S3QEL, and ETC inhibitors (rotenone and antimycin A) on DA tone, mitochondrial metabolism, O2‐induced changes in intracellular calcium, and ROS were studied in rabbit DA rings, and human and rabbit DA smooth muscle cells. S1QEL's effects on DA patency were assessed in rabbit kits, using micro computed tomography. In DA rings, S1QEL, but not S3QEL, reversed O2‐induced constriction (P=0.0034) without reducing phenylephrine‐induced constriction. S1QEL did not inhibit mitochondrial metabolism or ETC‐I activity. In human DA smooth muscle cells, S1QEL and rotenone inhibited O2‐induced increases in intracellular calcium (P=0.02 and 0.001, respectively), a surrogate for DA constriction. S1QEL inhibited O2‐induced ROS generation (P=0.02). In vivo, S1QEL prevented O2‐induced DA closure (P

Tokamak à configuration variable (TCV), recently celebrating 30 years of near-continual operation, continues in its missions to advance outstanding key physics and operational scenario issues for ITER and the design of future power plants such as DEMO. The main machine heating systems and operational changes are first described. Then follow five sections: plasma scenarios. ITER Base-Line (IBL) discharges, triangularity studies together with X3 heating and N2 seeding. Edge localised mode suppression, with a high radiation region near the X-point is reported with N _2 injection with and without divertor baffles in a snowflake configuration. Negative triangularity (NT) discharges attained record, albeit transient, β _N ∼ 3 with lower turbulence, higher low-Z impurity transport, vertical stability and density limits and core transport better than the IBL. Positive triangularity L-Mode linear and saturated ohmic confinement confinement saturation, often-correlated with intrinsic toroidal rotation reversals, was probed for D, H and He working gases. H-mode confinement and pedestal studies were extended to low collisionality with electron cyclotron heating obtaining steady state electron iternal transport barrier with neutral beam heating (NBH), and NBH driven H-mode configurations with off-axis co-electron cyclotron current drive. Fast particle physics. The physics of disruptions, runaway electrons and fast ions (FIs) was developed using near-full current conversion at disruption with recombination thresholds characterised for impurity species (Ne, Ar, Kr). Different flushing gases (D2, H2) and pathways to trigger a benign disruption were explored. The 55 kV NBH II generated a rich Alfvénic spectrum modulating the FI fas ion loss detector signal. NT configurations showed less toroidal Alfvén excitation activity preferentially affecting higher FI pitch angles. Scrape-off layer and edge physics. gas puff imaging systems characterised turbulent plasma ejection for several advanced divertor configurations, including NT. Combined diagnostic array divertor state analysis in detachment conditions was compared to modelling revealing an importance for molecular processes. Divertor physics. Internal gas baffles diversified to include shorter/longer structures on the high and/or low field side to probe compressive efficiency. Divertor studies concentrated upon mitigating target power, facilitating detachment and increasing the radiated power fraction employing alternative divertor geometries, optimised X-point radiator regimes and long-legged configurations. Smaller-than-expected improvements with total flux expansion were better modelled when including parallel flows. Peak outer target heat flux reduction was achieved (>50%) for high flux-expansion geometries, maintaining core performance ( H _98 > 1). A reduction in target heat loads and facilitated detachment access at lower core densities is reported. Real-time control. TCV’s real-time control upgrades employed MIMO gas injector control of stable, robust, partial detachment and plasma β feedback control avoiding neoclassical tearing modes with plasma confinement changes. Machine-learning enhancements include trajectory tracking disruption proximity and avoidance as well as a first-of-its-kind reinforcement learning-based controller for the plasma equilibrium trained entirely on a free-boundary simulator. Finally, a short description of TCV’s immediate future plans will be given.

Objective To facilitate replication and future intervention design of web-based multibehavior lifestyle interventions, we describe the rationale, development, and content of the A i M , P lan, and act on LIF est Y les (AMPLIFY) Survivor Health intervention which provides healthy eating and exercise behavior change support for older cancer survivors. The intervention promotes weight loss, improvements in diet quality, and meeting exercise recommendations. Methods The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist was used to provide a comprehensive description of the AMPLIFY intervention, consistent with CONSORT recommendations. Results A social cognitive theory web-based intervention founded on the core components of efficacious print and in-person interventions was conceptualized and developed through an iterative collaboration involving cancer survivors, web design experts, and a multidisciplinary investigative team. The intervention includes the AMPLIFY website, text and/or email messaging, and a private Facebook group. The website consists of: (1) Sessions (weekly interactive e-learning tutorials); (2) My Progress (logging current behavior, receiving feedback, setting goals); (3) Tools (additional information and resources); (4) Support (social support resources, frequently asked questions); and (5) Home page. Algorithms were used to generate fresh content daily and weekly, tailor information, and personalize goal recommendations. An a priori rubric was used to facilitate intervention delivery as healthy eating only (24 weeks), exercise only (24 weeks), or both behaviors concurrently over 48 weeks. Conclusions Our TIDieR-guided AMPLIFY description provides pragmatic information helpful for researchers designing multibehavior web-based interventions and enhances potential opportunities to improve such interventions.

Abstract Background Scalable, multiple behavior change interventions are needed to address poor diet, inactivity, and excess adiposity among the rising number of cancer survivors. Efficacy-tested diet (RENEW) and exercise (BEAT Cancer) programs were adapted for web delivery among middle-aged and older cancer survivors for the AMPLIFI study, a National Cancer Institute-funded, multi-site, program project. Methods Throughout the continental U.S., survivors of several obesity-related cancers are being recruited for three interconnected randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Projects 1 and 2 test 6-month diet or exercise interventions versus a wait-list control condition. Upon completion of the 6-month study period, the intervention participants receive the next behavior change sequence (i.e., diet receives exercise, exercise receives diet) and the wait-list control arm initiates a 12-month combined diet and exercise intervention. Project 3 tests the efficacy of the sequential versus simultaneous interventions. Assessments occur at baseline and semi-annually for up to 2-years and include: body mass index, health behaviors (diet quality, accelerometry-assessed physical activity/sleep), waist circumference, D3 creatine-assessed muscle mass, physical performance, potential mediators/moderators of treatment efficacy, biomarkers of inflammation and metabolic regulation, health care utilization, cost, and overall health. Four shared resources support AMPLIFI RCTs: 1) Administrative; 2) Adaptation, Dissemination and Implementation; 3) Recruitment and Retention; and 4) Assessment and Analysis. Discussion Representing a new generation of RCTs, AMPLIFI will exclusively use remote technologies to recruit, intervene and assess the efficacy of the newly-adapted, web-based diet and exercise interventions and determine whether sequential or combined delivery works best for at-risk (older, rural, racial minority) cancer survivors. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04000880 . Registered 27 June 2019.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the predictive significance of anti‐Scl‐70 (anti‐topoisomerase I) antibodies, as determined by three different methods, for decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) within the first year of follow‐up in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)‐related interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods Patients in the Genetics Versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcome Study cohort who had ILD (verified by imaging) and available FVC% at enrollment, plus 12 to 18 months thereafter, were examined. All patients had a disease duration of 5 years or less at enrollment. The annualized percentage change in FVC% at 1 year follow‐up was the outcome variable. Anti‐Scl‐70 antibodies were determined by passive immunodiffusion (ID) against calf thymus extract, chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA), and line blot immunoassay (LIA). Results Ninety‐one patients with a mean disease duration of 2.36 years were included. Anti‐Scl‐70 antibodies by ID predicted a faster rate of FVC% decline (b = −0.06, P = 0.04). None of the other clinical or serological variables significantly predicted ILD progression. Interestingly, anti‐Scl‐70 antibodies as determined by CIA and LIA were not significant predictors of FVC decline (P = 0.26 and 0.64, respectively). The observed level of agreement between ID and LIA was moderate (κ = 0.568), whereas it was good between ID and CIA (κ = 0.66). Conclusion Anti‐Scl‐70 antibodies determined by ID predicted faster FVC decline in patients with SSc‐related ILD. Notably, both CIA and LIA for the same antibody did not predict rate of FVC decline at their current cutoffs of positivity. The discrepancy observed between anti‐Scl‐70 antibody assays can have relevant implications for clinical care and trial enrichment strategies in SSc‐ILD.

BackgroundCOVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. Early reports were primarily in adults, and sickle cell disease (SCD) was classified as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease. However, there are a limited number of primarily multi-center studies reporting on the clinical course of pediatric patients with SCD and COVID-19.MethodsWe conducted an observational study of all patients with SCD diagnosed with COVID-19 at our institution between March 31, 2020, and February 12, 2021. Demographic and clinical characteristics of this group were collected by retrospective chart review.ResultsA total of 55 patients were studied, including 38 children and 17 adolescents. Demographics, acute COVID-19 clinical presentation, respiratory support, laboratory findings, healthcare utilization, and SCD modifying therapies were comparable between the children and adolescents. Seventy-three percent (N = 40) of all patients required emergency department care or hospitalization. While 47% (N = 26) were hospitalized, only 5% (N = 3) of all patients required intensive care unit admission. Patients frequently had concurrent vaso-occlusive pain crisis (VOC) (N = 17, 43%) and acute chest syndrome (ACS) (N = 14, 35%). Those with ACS or an oxygen requirement had significantly higher white blood cell count, lower nadir hemoglobin, and higher D-dimers, supporting a pro-inflammatory and coagulopathic picture. Non-hospitalized patients were more likely to be on hydroxyurea than hospitalized patients (79 vs. 50%, p = 0.023).ConclusionChildren and adolescent patients with SCD and acute COVID-19 often present with ACS and VOC pain requiring hospital-level care. Hydroxyurea treatment appears to be protective. We observed no mortality despite variable morbidity.

Objective This scoping review of reviews aims to describe the current landscape of measures of emotional well-being (EWB).Methods Following established practices for scoping reviews, we searched the PsycInfo, ERIC, Scopus and PubMed databases in June and July 2021 for reviews of measures of EWB that described their review methods and psychometric properties of included measures. From each eligible article, two coders independently extracted the authors’ (1) definition of EWB, (2) purpose for the review, (3) methods (eg, search terms, inclusion and exclusion criteria), (4) identified measures (including any noted adaptations) and (5) the scope of psychometric information presented. Descriptive and content analyses were used to examine data.Results Forty-nine reviews were included in this scoping review. Reviews included anywhere between 1 and 34 measures of EWB and 135 unique EWB measures were captured across all reviews. We found that there was no consistent definition of EWB, identified measures varied widely and reviews were published in a range of disciplines. Psychometric evidence varied as did authors’ purposes for conducting the reviews.Conclusions Overall, these reviews suggest that literature on EWB measurement is disjointed and diffuse. Conceptual integration and harmonisation of measures is needed to advance knowledge of EWB and its measurement.Trial registration numbers 10.17605/OSF.IO/BQDS7 and 10.17605/OSF.IO/WV8PF.

Rationale: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 pneumonia. We hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 causes alveolar injury and hypoxemia by damaging mitochondria in airway epithelial cells (AEC) and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC), triggering apoptosis and bioenergetic impairment, and impairing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), respectively. Objectives: We examined the effects of: A) human betacoronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43, and individual SARS-CoV-2 proteins on apoptosis, mitochondrial fission, and bioenergetics in AEC; and B) SARS-CoV-2 proteins and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-1) infection on HPV. Methods: We used transcriptomic data to identify temporal changes in mitochondrial-relevant gene ontology (GO) pathways post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also transduced AECs with SARS-CoV-2 proteins (M, Nsp7 or Nsp9) and determined effects on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) activity, relative membrane potential, apoptosis, mitochondrial fission, and oxygen consumption rates (OCR). In human PASMC, we assessed the effects of SARS-CoV-2 proteins on hypoxic increases in cytosolic calcium, an HPV proxy. In MHV-1 pneumonia, we assessed HPV via cardiac catheterization and apoptosis using the TUNEL assay. Results: SARS-CoV-2 regulated mitochondrial apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and electron transport chain (ETC) GO pathways within 2 hours of infection. SARS-CoV-2 downregulated ETC Complex I and ATP synthase genes, and upregulated apoptosis-inducing genes. SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 upregulated and activated dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and increased mitochondrial fission. SARS-CoV-2 and transduced SARS-CoV-2 proteins increased apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) expression and activated caspase 7, resulting in apoptosis. Coronaviruses also reduced OCR, decreased ETC Complex I activity and lowered ATP levels in AEC. M protein transduction also increased mPTP opening. In human PASMC, M and Nsp9 proteins inhibited HPV. In MHV-1 pneumonia, infected AEC displayed apoptosis and HPV was suppressed. BAY K8644, a calcium channel agonist, increased HPV and improved SpO2. Conclusions: Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, cause AEC apoptosis, mitochondrial fission, and bioenergetic impairment. SARS-CoV-2 also suppresses HPV by targeting mitochondria. This mitochondriopathy is replicated by transduction with SARS-CoV-2 proteins, indicating a mechanistic role for viral-host mitochondrial protein interactions. Mitochondriopathy is a conserved feature of coronaviral pneumonia that may exacerbate hypoxemia and constitutes a therapeutic target.

Purpose: Radiation treatment interruption associated with unplanned hospitalization remains understudied. The intent of this study was to benchmark the frequency of hospitalization-associated radiation therapy interruptions (HARTI), characterize disease processes causing hospitalization during radiation, identify factors predictive for HARTI, and localize neighborhood environments associated with HARTI at our academic referral center. Methods and Materials: This retrospective review of electronic health records provided descriptive statistics of HARTI event rates at our institutional practice. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression models were developed to identify significant factors predictive for HARTI. Causes of hospitalization were established from primary discharge diagnoses. HARTI rates were mapped according to patient residence addresses. Results: Between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017, 197 HARTI events (5.3%) were captured across 3729 patients with 727 total missed treatments. The 3 most common causes of hospitalization were malnutrition/dehydration (n = 28; 17.7%), respiratory distress/infection (n = 24; 13.7%), and fever/sepsis (n = 17; 9.7%). Factors predictive for HARTI included African-American race (odds ratio [OR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.06; P = .018), Medicaid/uninsured status (OR: 2.05; 95% CI, 1.32-3.15; P = .0013), Medicare coverage (OR: 1.7; 95% CI, 1.21-2.39; P = .0022), lung (OR: 5.97; 95% CI, 3.22-11.44; P < .0001), and head and neck (OR: 5.6; 95% CI, 2.96-10.93; P < .0001) malignancies, and prescriptions >20 fractions (OR: 2.23; 95% CI, 1.51-3.34; P < .0001). HARTI events clustered among Medicaid/uninsured patients living in urban, low-income, majority African-American neighborhoods, and patients from middle-income suburban communities, independent of race and insurance status. Only the wealthiest residential areas demonstrated low HARTI rates. Conclusions: HARTI disproportionately affected socioeconomically disadvantaged urban patients facing a high treatment burden in our catchment population. A complementary geospatial analysis also captured the risk experienced by middle-income suburban patients independent of race or insurance status. Confirmatory studies are warranted to provide scale and context to guide intervention strategies to equitably reduce HARTI events.

Abstract Background Long-term outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli related to hospital-building water systems have been described. However, successful mitigation strategies have rarely been reported. In particular, environmental disinfection or replacement of contaminated equipment usually failed to eradicate environmental sources of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods We report the investigation and termination of an outbreak of P. aeruginosa producing VIM carbapenemase (PA-VIM) in the adult intensive care unit (ICU) of a Swiss tertiary care hospital with active case finding, environmental sampling and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of patient and environmental strains. We also describe the implemented control strategies and their effectiveness on eradication of the environmental reservoir. Results Between April 2018 and September 2020, 21 patients became either infected or colonized with a PA-VIM strain. For 16 of them, an acquisition in the ICU was suspected. Among 131 environmental samples collected in the ICU, 13 grew PA-VIM in sink traps and drains. WGS confirmed the epidemiological link between clinical and environmental strains and the monoclonal pattern of the outbreak. After removing sinks from patient rooms and implementation of waterless patient care, no new acquisition was detected in the ICU within 8 months after the intervention. Discussion Implementation of waterless patient care with removal of the sinks in patient rooms was successful for termination of a PA-VIM ICU outbreak linked to multiple environmental water sources. WGS provides highly discriminatory accuracy to investigate environment-related outbreaks.

Abstract Vector‐borne parasites often manipulate hosts to attract uninfected vectors. For example, parasites causing malaria alter host odor to attract mosquitoes. Here, we discuss the ecology and evolution of fruit‐colonizing yeast in a tripartite symbiosis—the so‐called “killer yeast” system. “Killer yeast” consists of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast hosting two double‐stranded RNA viruses (M satellite dsRNAs, L‐A dsRNA helper virus). When both dsRNA viruses occur in a yeast cell, the yeast converts to lethal toxin‑producing “killer yeast” phenotype that kills uninfected yeasts. Yeasts on ephemeral fruits attract insect vectors to colonize new habitats. As the viruses have no extracellular stage, they depend on the same insect vectors as yeast for their dispersal. Viruses also benefit from yeast dispersal as this promotes yeast to reproduce sexually, which is how viruses can transmit to uninfected yeast strains. We tested whether insect vectors are more attracted to killer yeasts than to non‑killer yeasts. In our field experiment, we found that killer yeasts were more attractive to Drosophila than non‐killer yeasts. This suggests that vectors foraging on yeast are more likely to transmit yeast with a killer phenotype, allowing the viruses to colonize those uninfected yeast strains that engage in sexual reproduction with the killer yeast. Beyond insights into the basic ecology of the killer yeast system, our results suggest that viruses could increase transmission success by manipulating the insect vectors of their host.

INTRODUCTION: Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) is an excellent tool to diagnose peripheral pulmonary nodules, especially in the setting of emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis. However, most of these procedures are done by interventional pulmonologists and academic tertiary centers under general anesthesia. Studies evaluating the diagnostic utility of this tool in safety-net community hospitals by pulmonologists not formally trained in this technology are lacking. The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of ENB done in such a setting and its associated complications. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of consecutive ENB procedures over 5 years from 2014, since its inception in our institution-a safety-net community based hospital was performed. Multiple variables were analyzed to assess their impact on diagnostic yields. RESULTS: After exclusion criteria were applied, 72 patients with 76 procedures were eventually included within our study, with an overall 1-year diagnostic yield of 80.2%. Sensitivity for malignancy was 73% and negative predictive value of 65%. Primary lung cancer was the most common diagnosis obtained, followed by tuberculosis (TB). The overall complication rates were low, with only 1 patient (1.3%) requiring hospitalization due to pneumothorax needing tube thoracostomy. No deaths or respiratory failures were noted within the cohort. The only significant variable affecting diagnostic yield was forced expiratory volume in 1 s. The presence of emphysema did not affect diagnostic yield. CONCLUSIONS: ENB is safe and feasible with a high diagnostic success rate even when performed by pulmonologists not formally trained in interventional pulmonology in low resource settings under moderate sedation.

Abstract Background Although evidence-based interventions for increasing exercise among cancer survivors (CSs) exist, little is known about factors (e.g., implementation facilitators) that increase effectiveness and reach of such interventions, especially in rural settings. Such factors can be used to design implementation strategies. Hence, our study purpose was to (1) obtain multilevel perspectives on improving participation in and implementation of a multicomponent exercise behavior change intervention for rural women CSs and (2) identify factors important for understanding the context using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) for comparison across three levels (CSs, potential interventionists, community/organizational stakeholders). Methods We conducted three nominal group technique meetings with rural women CSs, three with community/organizational stakeholders, and one with potential interventionists. During each meeting, participants were asked to respond silently to one question asking what would make a multicomponent exercise intervention doable from intervention participation (CSs) or implementation (potential interventionists, stakeholders) perspectives. Responses were shared, discussed to clarify meaning, and prioritized by group vote. Data was deductively coded using CFIR. Results Mean age of CSs (n = 19) was 61.8 ± 11.1 years, community stakeholders (n = 16) was 45.9 ± 8.1 years, and potential interventionists (n = 7) was 41.7 ± 15.2 years. There was considerable consensus among CSs, potential interventionists, and stakeholders in terms of CFIR domains and constructs, e.g., “Design quality and packaging” (Innovation Characteristics), “Patients needs and resources” (Outer Setting), “Available resources” (Inner Setting), and “Engaging” (Process). However, participant-specific CFIR domains and constructs were also observed, e.g., CSs endorsed “Knowledge and beliefs about the intervention,” “Individual stage of change,” and “Self-efficacy” (Characteristics of Individuals); potential interventionists valued “Tension for change” (Inner Setting) and “Innovation participants” and “Key stakeholder” (Process); stakeholders emphasized “Goals and feedback” and “Network and communication” (Inner Setting), and “Planning” (Process). How the three participant levels conceptualized the CFIR constructs demonstrated both similarities and differences. Conclusions Multilevel input yielded diversity in type, relative priority, and conceptualization of implementation facilitators suggesting foci for future implementation strategy development and testing. Findings also reinforced the importance of multilevel implementation strategies for increasing exercise in an underserved, at-risk population.

Background: Neutrophils play a role in innate immunity and are critical for clearance of Staphylococcus aureus. Current understanding of neutrophil bactericidal effects is that NADPH oxidase produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), mediating bacterial killing. Neutrophils also contain numerous mitochondria; since these organelles lack oxidative metabolism, their function is unclear. We hypothesize that mitochondria in human neutrophils contribute to the bactericidal capacity of S. aureus. Methods: and Findings: Using human neutrophils isolated from healthy volunteers (n = 13; 7 females, 6 males), we show that mitochondria are critical in the immune response to S. aureus. Using live-cell and fixed confocal, and transmission electron microscopy, we show mitochondrial tagging of bacteria prior to ingestion and surrounding of phagocytosed bacteria immediately upon engulfment. Further, we demonstrate that mitochondria are ejected from intact neutrophils and engage bacteria during vital NETosis. Inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain at Complex III, but not Complex I, attenuates S. aureus killing by 50 ± 7%, comparable to the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin. Similarly, mitochondrial ROS scavenging using MitoTEMPO attenuates bacterial killing 112 ± 60% versus vehicle control. Antimycin A treatment also reduces mitochondrial ROS production by 50 ± 12% and NETosis by 53 ± 5%. Conclusions: We identify a previously unrecognized role for mitochondria in human neutrophils in the killing of S. aureus. Inhibition of electron transport chain Complex III significantly impairs antimicrobial activity. This is the first demonstration that vital NETosis, an early event in the antimicrobial response, occurring within 5 min of bacterial exposure, depends on the function of mitochondrial Complex III. Mitochondria join NADPH oxidase as bactericidal ROS generators that mediate the bactericidal activities of human neutrophils.

Abstract Upon starvation diploid cells of the facultative sexual yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergo sporulation, forming four metabolically quiescent and robust haploid spores encased in a degradable ascus. All endosymbionts, whether they provide net benefits or costs, utilize host resources; in yeast, this should induce an earlier onset of sporulation. Here, we tested whether the presence of endosymbiotic dsRNA viruses (M satellite and L‐A helper) correspond with higher sporulation rate of their host, S. cerevisiae. We find that S. cerevisiae hosting both the M and L‐A viruses (so‐called “killer yeasts”) have significantly higher sporulation efficiency than those without. We also found that the removal of the M virus did not reduce sporulation frequency, possibly because the L‐A virus still utilizes host resources with and without the M virus. Our findings indicate that either virulent resource use by endosymbionts induces sporulation, or that viruses are spread more frequently to sporulating strains. Further exploration is required to distinguish cause from effect.

BackgroundWith the increasing number of older cancer survivors, it is imperative to optimize the reach of interventions that promote healthy lifestyles. Web-based delivery holds promise for increasing the reach of such interventions with the rapid increase in internet use among older adults. However, few studies have explored the views of middle-aged and older cancer survivors on this approach and potential variations in these views by gender or rural and urban residence. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the views of middle-aged and older cancer survivors regarding the features of web-based healthy lifestyle programs to inform the development of a web-based diet and exercise intervention. MethodsUsing a qualitative descriptive approach, we conducted 10 focus groups with 57 cancer survivors recruited from hospital cancer registries in 1 southeastern US state. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic and content analyses with NVivo (version 12.5, QSR International). ResultsA total of 29 male and 28 female urban and rural dwelling Black and White survivors, with a mean age of 65 (SD 8.27) years, shared their views about a web-based healthy lifestyle program for cancer survivors. Five themes emerged related to program content, design, delivery, participation, technology training, and receiving feedback. Cancer survivors felt that web-based healthy lifestyle programs for cancer survivors must deliver credible, high-quality, and individually tailored information, as recommended by health care professionals or content experts. Urban survivors were more concerned about information reliability, whereas women were more likely to trust physicians’ recommendations. Male and rural survivors wanted information to be tailored to the cancer type and age group. Privacy, usability, interaction frequency, and session length were important factors for engaging cancer survivors with a web-based program. Female and rural participants liked the interactive nature and visual appeal of the e-learning sessions. Learning from experts, an attractive design, flexible schedule, and opportunity to interact with other cancer survivors in Facebook closed groups emerged as factors promoting program participation. Low computer literacy, lack of experience with web program features, and concerns about Facebook group privacy were important concerns influencing cancer survivors’ potential participation. Participants noted the importance of technology training, preferring individualized help to standardized computer classes. More rural cancer survivors acknowledged the need to learn how to use computers. The receipt of regular feedback about progress was noted as encouragement toward goal achievement, whereas women were particularly interested in receiving immediate feedback to stay motivated. ConclusionsImportant considerations for designing web-based healthy lifestyle interventions for middle-aged and older cancer survivors include program quality, participants’ privacy, ease of use, attractive design, and the prominent role of health care providers and content experts. Cancer survivors’ preferences based on gender and residence should be considered to promote program participation.

Abstract Background Little is known about the prevalence of healthy lifestyle (HLS) discussions between providers and older cancer survivors. Methods We utilized cross‐sectional data from older cancer survivors (≥65 years) seen at 12 southeastern cancer centers during 2013‐2015. Data on demographics, time since diagnosis, weight, height, and healthy behaviors were collected. Respondents were asked if providers (oncologists, other physicians, and/or nurses) discussed exercise, healthy diet, weight management, and/or smoking cessation during clinical encounters. Descriptive statistics and bivariate associations between HLS topics and survivor characteristics were calculated. Results Among 1460 cancer survivors, mean age was 74 years (SD 6), most were white (81%), and >1 year postdiagnosis (84%). The majority (71%) reported discussing at least one of three HLS topics (exercise 49%, healthy diet 53%, vegetable consumption 28%); 17% received counseling on all three. Weight loss was recommended to 33% of overweight/obese survivors and smoking cessation to 85% of current smokers. Oncologists and nurses discussed HLS less frequently compared to other physicians. Younger survivors (65‐74 years) received recommendations for exercise, weight loss, and tobacco cessation more often than older survivors (≥75 years). Compared to white respondents, minorities reported discussions on all topics more often except for tobacco cessation. Excluding tobacco cessation, survivors with recent cancer diagnoses (1 year postdiagnosis. Conclusion Despite the American Cancer Society's recommendations, older survivors reported a low prevalence of HLS discussions with their providers, with some variation by demographic groups. Strategies are needed to promote these important discussions in this population.

Similar to many other species groups, insects are affected by the biodiversity crisis caused by land use and climate changes, over or under use of resources, pollution, and invasive alien species (IPBES 2019). After the famous Krefeld study, which highlighted a loss of 75% of the insect biomass over the last 27 years in protected areas in Germany (Hallmann et al. 2017), further scientific articles and reviews have been published on this topic (e.g., Seibold et al. 2019; Wagner 2020). Nowadays, it is obvious, that the diversity and biomass of insects are strongly threatened globally. Nevertheless, not all insect populations are decreasing. Some thermophilous species can benefit from climate change and hence expand their population size and their distribution (e.g., Roth et al. 2021). There are also examples of increasing insect populations due to successful conservation measures (e.g., Walter et al. 2017). A comprehensive recent study published in a Swiss Academic Report (Widmer et al. 2021) concluded that conservation measures are urgently needed to avoid dramatic losses of insects and the valuable ecosystem services they provide. This is necessary for all activity sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and energy production. Among other measures, this report recommends an intensification of species monitoring and research activities in entomology, and an improvement in knowledge transfer. Our journal, Alpine Entomology, fulfills this goal extremely well. As an open-access journal, we aim at publishing inter alia research and review articles, short communications and checklists on arthropods not only from the Alps but also from other mountainous regions. In doing so, we contribute to the dissemination of knowledge on insects to a broad audience. For example, more than twenty articles published in Alpine Entomology since 2017 have acquired more than 2’000 unique views. To improve the international impact and scientific quality of Alpine Entomology, we can now count on our recently formed editorial board. The board members will act as ambassadors for our journal outside of Switzerland, as well as support us in our strategic decisions. Our Editorial board is currently composed of the following people: Prof. Dr. Thibault Lachat, Editor in chief, Bern University of Applied Sciences Dr. Oliver Martin, President of the Swiss Entomological Society, ETH Zurich Dr. Yves Basset, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama Prof. Dr. Inon Scharf, Tel Aviv University PD Dr. Seraina Klopfstein, Natural History Museum, Basel Prof. Dr. Lyubomir Penev, Managing Director and Founder of Pensoft Publishers We are open to extending this board by inviting a few additional members, and especially hope to recruit international researchers working in regions not currently represented. A few weeks ago, we launched our first topical collection, a step that should also help to increase the attractivity of our journal. This collection is focused on arthropods associated with aquatic ecosystems in mountainous regions. Aquatic ecosystems and especially running waters represent some of the most impacted environments on the planet. Furthermore, aquatic invertebrates are key indicators of global or local changes, and many aquatic ecosystems are closely linked to mountains as they originate in them. With this open collection, Alpine Entomology now provides authors with an opportunity to submit manuscripts based on already available data with clear evidence for changes/trends in aquatic arthropods (even where sampling designs were not initially conceived for this goal). Such studies would be highly relevant to improving our understanding of developments concerning arthropod populations and knowledge of aquatic species. With this initiative, we aim to provide a platform for scientists to publish research articles or short notes on trends and/or changes in biogeography, species community or distribution, as well as behavior, or morphology of aquatic arthropods from mountainous regions. The editors of this collection (Jean-Luc Gattolliat and Dávid Murányi) will be inviting authors to submit their manuscript and will offer a fee waiver for invited contributions. The topical collection is also open to relevant additional contributions (for details see https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/special_issues). Over the next months, we plan to launch further topical collections and therefore hope to offer attractive avenues for researchers to publish their results in our journal. The editorial board will be involved in evaluating suggestions for future topics, as well as recruiting new topics in a targeted fashion. After five years of existence, Alpine Entomology has already surmounted different challenges. Since 2019, our journal has been indexed in Emerging Sources Citation by Clarivate Analytics and since 2020, we are also indexed by Scopus. One of our goals for the next years will be to obtain an impact factor from Clarivate. This would provide a clear signal that our journal is well established and recognized in the scientific community. To reach this goal, we need to recruit and secure a consistent flow of manuscripts aiming at ca. 20–25 published papers per year. Of course, the quality of our published articles must also be guaranteed. Fortunately, for this we can continue to count on the strong support of our expert subject editors and the numerous reviewers. Here, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved for their essential contributions to our journal over the years since its creation.

Abstract Invasive species are a threat to global biodiversity, yet the impacts of invasive birds on the native birds with which they compete are understudied. Humans have a long history of providing and managing nest boxes to support native birds; however, their management of non‐native birds has received limited research attention. We surveyed people who maintain nest boxes in North America to examine the extent of interference competition for nest sites between native and non‐native birds and the human behaviors intended to reduce nest site competition. Our specific objectives were to examine observations of nest usurpation of native birds by non‐native birds across the United States and Canada, to ascertain whether and how people who maintain nest boxes control non‐native bird species in favor of native species, and to quantify various factors correlated with the likelihood of engaging in management activities. We found that nearly one‐third of the 871 respondents had observed a non‐native species usurp a nest box occupied by a native species. Among respondents who reported nest usurpations, species‐specific nest usurpation rates varied (range = 3–35%). We found that witnessing a nest usurpation is the most important predictor of whether or not someone will engage in management activities. Management activity was also associated with the extent to which respondents believed non‐native birds to be a problem at the continental scale. Our study shows that people's observations of threats from introduced species are correlated with the environmental management actions people take, and that these actions can mitigate the threats, and potentially support the survival of native birds.

This study investigates the ameliorative effect of crude chitooligosaccharide (COS) and five specific COSs ((GlcN)2-6) on lipid accumulation and, therein, characterizes the inhibition mechanism of chitobiose ((GlcN)2). After treatment with oleic acid (OA), the triglyceride (TG), LDL-c content, lipogenesis-signaling genes and protein in HepG2 cells increased, while lipid accumulation was suppressed by COS and five single COSs both in co-treatment and after-treatment. In addition, we observed that 4 mg/mL (GlcN)2 had a significant inhibitory effect on hepatic lipid accumulation and decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), liver X receptor α (LXRα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), pregnenolone X receptor (PXR) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36). These results collectively indicate that, among all (GlcN)2-6 studied, (GlcN)2 provides the best active effect on anti-hyperlipidemia and steatosis regulation via decreasing fatty acid uptake and TG synthesis in HepG2 cells.

Pulmonary lymphoproliferative neoplasms are rare lung tumors and account for

The Swiss Plasma Center (SPC) is planning a divertor upgrade for the TCV tokamak. The upgrade aims at extending the research of conventional and alternative divertor configurations to operational scenarios and divertor regimes of greater relevance for a fusion reactor. The main elements of the upgrade are the installation of an in-vessel structure to form a divertor chamber of variable closure and enhanced diagnostic capabilities, an increase of the pumping capability of the divertor chamber and the addition of new divertor poloidal field coils. The project follows a staged approach and is carried out in parallel with an upgrade of the TCV heating system. First calculations using the EMC3-Eirene code indicate that realistic baffles together with the planned heating upgrade will allow for a significantly higher compression of neutral particles in the divertor, which is a prerequisite to test the power dissipation potential of various divertor configurations.

Citizen science includes a suite of research approaches that involves participation by citizens, who are not usually trained scientists, in scientific projects. Citizen science projects have the capacity to record observations of species with high precision and accuracy, offering the potential for collection of biological data to support a diversity of research investigations. Moreover, via the involvement of project participants, these projects have the potential to engage the public on scientific issues and to possibly contribute to changes in community knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. However, there are considerable challenges in ensuring that large-scale collection and verification of species data by the untrained public is a robust and useful long-term endeavor, and that project participants are indeed engaged and acquiring knowledge. Here, we describe approaches taken to overcome challenges in creation and maintenance of a website-based national citizen science initiative where fishers, divers, and other coastal users submit opportunistic photographic observations of ‘out-of-range’ species. The Range Extension Database and Mapping Project (Redmap Australia) has two objectives, (1) ecological monitoring for the early detection of species that may be extending their geographic distribution due to environmental change, and (2) engaging the public on the ecological impacts of climate change, using the public’s own data. Semi-automated ‘managed crowd-sourcing’ of an Australia-wide network of scientists with taxonomic expertise is used to verify every photographic observation. This unique system is supported by efficient workflows that ensures the rigor of data submitted. Moreover, ease of involvement for participants and prompt personal feedback has contributed to generating and maintaining ongoing interest. The design of Redmap Australia allows co-creation of knowledge with the community – without participants requiring formal training – providing an opportunity to engage sectors of the community that may not necessarily be willing to undergo training or otherwise be formally involved or engaged in citizen science. Given that capturing changes in our natural environment requires many observations spread over time and space, identifying factors and processes that support large-scale citizen science monitoring projects is increasingly critical.

Divers have widely participated in citizen science (CS) projects and are one of the main groups of marine citizen scientists. However, there is little knowledge about profiles of, and incentives for potential divers to join CS projects. To date, most studies have focused on the SCUBA diving industry; nevertheless, there is a diversity of divers, not all using SCUBA, who engage in different activities during their dives. Differences in diver profiles could affect their willingness and ability to contribute to CS. In this study, we compare the diving profile, interests, preferences and motivations to participate in CS of five diver types (artisanal fishermen, recreational divers, instructors, scientific divers, and others). All divers have strong interests in participating in CS projects, with no major differences among diver types. In general, they are interested in a wide variety of themes related to CS but they prefer simple sampling protocols. Divers are motivated to participate in CS to learn about the sea and contribute to science. Some important differences among diver types were found, with artisanal fishermen having significantly more dive experience than other diver types, but less free time during their dives and limited access to some communication channels and technologies. These characteristics make them ideal partners to contribute their local ecological knowledge (LEK) to local CS projects. In contrast, recreational divers have the least experience but most free time during their dives and good access to cameras and communications channels, making them suitable partners for large-scale CS projects that do not require a high level of species knowledge. Instructors and scientific divers are well-placed to coordinate and supervise CS activities. The results confirm that divers are not all alike and specific considerations have to be taken into account to improve the contribution of each diver type to CS. The findings provide essential information for the design of different types of CS projects. By considering the relevant incentives and opportunities for diverse diver groups, marine CS projects will make efficient gains in volunteer recruitment, retention, and collaborative generation of knowledge about the marine environment.

AimsNumerous healthcare decisions are faced by persons with advanced cancer from diagnosis to end-of-life. The family caregiver role in these decisions has focused on being a surrogate decision-maker, however, little is known about the caregiver's role in supporting upstream patient decision-making. We aimed to describe the roles of family caregivers in assisting community-dwelling advanced cancer patients with healthcare decision-making across settings and contexts.MethodsQualitative study using one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with community-dwelling persons with metastatic cancer (n = 18) and their family caregivers (n = 20) recruited from outpatient oncology clinics of a large tertiary care academic medical center, between October 2016 and October 2017. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.FindingsCaregivers averaged 56 years and were mostly female (95%), white (85%), and the patient's partner/spouse (70%). Patients averaged 58 years and were mostly male (67%) in self-reported "fair" or "poor" health (50%) with genitourinary (33%), lung (17%), and hematologic (17%) cancers. Themes describing family member roles in supporting patients' upstream healthcare decision-making were: 1) seeking information about the cancer, its trajectory, and treatments options; 2) ensuring family and healthcare clinicians have a common understanding of the patient's treatment plan and condition; 3) facilitating discussions with patients about their values and the framing of their illness; 5) posing "what if" scenarios about current and potential future health states and treatments; 6) addressing collateral decisions (e.g., work arrangements) resulting from medical treatment choices; 6) originating healthcare-related decision points, including decisions about seeking emergency care; and 7) making healthcare decisions for patients who preferred to delegate healthcare decisions to their family caregivers.ConclusionsThese findings highlight a previously unreported and understudied set of critical decision partnering roles that cancer family caregivers play in patient healthcare decision-making. Optimizing these roles may represent novel targets for early decision support interventions for family caregivers.

A global heat flux model based on a fractional derivative of plasma pressure is proposed for the heat transport in fusion plasmas. The degree of the fractional derivative of the heat flux, α, is defined through the power balance analysis of the steady state. The model was used to obtain the experimental values of α for a large database of the Joint European Torus (JET) carbon-wall as well as ITER like-wall plasmas. The fractional degrees of the electron heat flux are found to be α

Background Pre-workout supplements purportedly enhance feelings of energy, reduce fatigue and improve exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the performance effects of caffeinated and non-caffeinated multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements. Methods In a counterbalanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, eccentric and concentric force production during lower body resistance exercise on a mechanized squat device were assessed after supplement ingestion. Repetitions-in-reserve/RPE and subjective feelings of energy, focus and fatigue were also examined. Twenty-one resistance-trained adults (12 F, 9 M) completed three conditions in random order: caffeinated supplement, non-caffeinated supplement and placebo. Subjects were not informed of the presence of a placebo condition. Thirty minutes after supplement ingestion, a 3-repetition maximum test and 5 sets of 6 repetitions were completed using the squat device. Each repetition involved 4-s eccentric and concentric phases, and the force signal throughout each repetition was sampled from a load cell contained within the squat device. The scaled and filtered force signals were analyzed using customized software. Repeated measures analysis of variance and appropriate follow-up analyses were utilized to compare dependent variables, and relevant effect sizes (d) were calculated. Results Supplement or placebo ingestion led to similar subjective responses (p > 0.05). Energy (+8 to 44%; d = 0.3 to 0.8) and focus (+8 to 25%; d = 0.3 to 0.5) were acutely increased by supplement or placebo ingestion and decreased as the exercise session progressed. Fatigue was acutely decreased by supplement or placebo ingestion (−7 to 38%; d = −0.1 to −0.6) and increased as the exercise session progressed. Eccentric and concentric forces were unimproved by supplementation during the exercise sets for both sexes. In the non-caffeinated supplement condition only, maximal eccentric force production was lower during sets 3 to 5, as compared to set 1 (p

Resumen Objetivo: El propósito del presente trabajo fue evaluar el nivel de evidencia científica de artículos de investigación clínica publicados en las Revista Ineroamericana de Cirugía de la Mano (RICMA) y compararlo con las revistas Europea (JHSE) y Americana (JHSA). Material y método: Un total de 932 trabajos de investigación clínicos publicados entre 2005 y 2009 (RICMA 60, JHSE, JHSA 461 y 411) fueron revisados. Dos observadores independientes clasificaron el nivel de evidencia basado en la Clasificación Internacional de Oxford, siendo 5 el nivel más bajo y 1 el nivel más alto de evidencia científica. Las frecuencias observadas de nivel de evidencia para cada revista científica fueron comparadas con las frecuencias esperadas mediante un test de chi- cuadrado (X2) para variables categóricas con un nivel de significancia del 0.05. Resultados: Más del 80% de los trabajos publicados en la RICMA y el JHSE , y el 67.6% en el JHSA presentaron un nivel IV de evidencia. Trabajos de nivel I o II no fueron publicados en la RICMA, comparado con el JHSE (0.9% nivel I, 5% nivel II), y con el JHSA (8.3% nivel I, 10% nivel II). El porcentaje de artículos con nivel III publicados en la RICMA (16,7%) fue mayor al observado en el JHSE (11.1%) y en el JHSA (14.1%). Todos los resultados fueron estadísticamente significativos (X2=63.95; p

It is now generally acknowledged that climate change has wide-ranging biological consequences, potentially leading to impacts on biodiversity. Environmental factors can have diverse and often strong effects on reproduction, with obvious ramifications for population fitness. Nevertheless, reproductive traits are often neglected in conservation considerations. Focusing on animals, recent progress in sexual selection and sexual conflict research suggests that reproductive costs may pose an underestimated hurdle during rapid climate change, potentially lowering adaptive potential and increasing extinction risk of certain populations. Nevertheless, regime shifts may have both negative and positive effects on reproduction, so it is important to acquire detailed experimental data. We hence present an overview of the literature reporting short-term reproductive consequences of exposure to different environmental factors. From the enormous diversity of findings, we conclude that climate change research could benefit greatly from more coordinated efforts incorporating evolutionary approaches in order to obtain cross-comparable data on how individual and population reproductive fitness respond in the long term. Therefore, we propose ideas and methods concerning future efforts dealing with reproductive consequences of climate change, in particular by highlighting the advantages of multi-generational experimental evolution experiments.

Vertically acquired, endosymbiotic bacteria such as those belonging to the Rickettsiales and the Mollicutes are known to influence the biology of their arthropod hosts in order to favour their own transmission. In this study we investigate the influence of such reproductive parasites on the behavior of their insects and arachnid hosts. We find that changes in host behavior that are associated with endosymbiont infections are not restricted to characteristics that are directly associated with reproduction. Other behavioural traits, such as those involved in intraspecific competition or in dispersal may also be affected. Such behavioural shifts are expected to influence the level of intraspecific variation and the rate at which adaptation can occur through their effects on effective population size and gene flow amongst populations. Symbionts may thus influence both levels of polymorphism within species and the rate at which diversification can occur.

El establecimiento de fincas con ganaderías libres de brucelosis es una estrategia diseñada en el ámbito mundial para avanzar en la prevención, control y erradicación de la brucelosis y, así mismo, cumplir con requisitos para el comercio internacional de productos y subproductos de origen bovino. Colombia se encuentra ante la OIE, como uno de los países con enfermedad clínica demostrada, por tal razón se han creado campañaspara la erradicación de esta enfermedad. FEDEGAN ha hecho esfuerzos conjuntos con sus planes sanitarios de vacunación y creación de organismos de inspección en el control de esta enfermedad. En Boyacá se ha creado un proyecto piloto, en el cual se realiza un análisis sanitario de la situación de la brucelosis mediante pruebasdiagnósticas, como son: Rosa de Bengala (RB), ElisaIndirecta (EI) y Elisa Competitiva (EC). En el periodocomprendido entre abril de 2008 y abril de 2009 se muestrearon 1910 animales en 41 fincas ubicadas en las provincias de Centro, Tundama y Sugamuxi, en las cuales el 98.8% de los bovinos muestreados fueron hembras y el 1.2% machos, encontrándose en éstos una positividad ante la prueba RB del 2.9%, ante la prueba EI un 0.8% y ante la prueba EC un 2.8% de positividad, conuna prevalencia de 0.73% en la población analizada.Palabras clave: brucelosis, rosa de Bengala, Elisa indirecta, Elisa competitiva.

The effects of the January 1994 devaluation of the African Financial Community (CFA) franc on the nutritional situation of the populations concerned has been little documented. We report in this article on two nutritional cross-sectional surveys that were conducted before and after this devaluation (1993 and 1996) in two districts of Brazzaville, Congo. The surveys involved a representative sample of 4206 households with a child aged 4-23 months. Complementary feeding practices and the anthropometric indices of the children and their mothers were compared, adjusting for changes in household socioeconomic characteristics. The results show a decline in the quality of the first complementary foods offered to the infants, i.e. less frequent use of special transitional foods and imported complementary flours (of higher nutritional quality), and preparation of less nutritious local gruels. Overall, the nutritional situation had deteriorated, with greater levels of stunting and wasting among children, mothers with lower body mass index, and infants with reduced birth weights. Increased food prices would appear to be the direct cause of the decreased quality in complementary feeding, but factors other than the devaluation have also had an impact on household welfare. The influence of these factors on nutritional status is discussed.

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a widely employed measure of developmental stability. It has been found to increase with many stressors including parasite infection. Associations between parasites and FA may exist for several reasons in addition to parasites being the direct cause of increased FA. Developmentally stable individuals may have superior immune systems, and be less susceptible to parasite infection, and/or may be less exposed to parasites than developmentally unstable ones. Mites negatively impact host fitness in a number of insects, and if FA is a reflection of general genetic quality, as has been proposed, associations between mite number and FA are predicted. Potential relationships were investigated between an ectoparasitic mite, Pediculoides mesembrinae (Canestrini) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) and FA in the common dung fly Sepsis cynipsea (L.) (Diptera: Sepsidae). While it was found that mite infested flies died much faster than flies without mites, indicating that mites indeed stress their hosts, counter to expectations, no associations between mites and FA were found in any analyses. Additionally, FA in mite-infected flies generally did not differ from previously published FA data from uninfected S. cynipsea. Nevertheless, parasitized males tended to be somewhat less asymmetrical than non-parasitized males, but based on our data, it does not appear that mite infestation is generally associated with developmental stability in S. cynipsea.