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This study aims to explore the impact of dual learning on preschool teachers' thriving at work and creative performance, and whether preschool teachers' thriving at work acts as a mediating factor in the relationship between dual learning and teachers' creative work. The participants were preschool teachers from Taiwan. Convenience sampling was used, resulting in a sample size of 388 people. The study results found that preschool teachers' dual learning, which includes both exploitative and exploratory learning, can improve the novelty and usefulness of their work and creativity. Furthermore, the study found that preschool teachers' thriving at work mediates the relationship between dual learning and creativity. This study also discovered that dual learning should combine and complement both exploitative and exploratory learning to achieve balance and the most significant effect. Therefore, it is essential to first help preschool teachers engage in both exploitative and exploratory learning. Schools and kindergartens can also provide relevant courses to help teachers combine these two learning methods. By integrating and complementing their advantages and disadvantages, a balance in learning can be achieved, thereby promoting teachers' creativity in their work.

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, little research delineates the temporal and mechanistic associations between potential risk factors and suicidality in autistic individuals. We assessed 129 autistic and 121 age-matched and sex-assigned-at-birth-matched typically developing (TD) children and youth at baseline and follow-up. We evaluated internalizing/externalizing problems, bullying experiences, and three executive function tasks at a mean baseline age of 13.4 years (standard deviation: 4.2 years). After an average of 5.8 years (standard deviation: 1.7 years), we evaluated their suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The experiences of being bullied partially mediated the temporal relationship between pre-existing ASD and later-reported suicidal thoughts. Several cognitive flexibility and sustained attention indices mediated the temporal relationship between pre-existing ASD and later-reported suicidal thoughts. A multiple mediation model confirmed that bullying victimization and cognitive flexibility jointly mediated the temporal relationship between ASD and suicidal thoughts. Better cognitive flexibility and experiences of bullying victimization in autistic children/youth were both associated with higher risks of later-reported suicidal thoughts in adolescence/adulthood. School bullying-prevention programs and tailored clinical support for autistic youth with better cognitive flexibility are warranted for personalized suicide prevention for the autistic population.

Since the last IAEA-FEC in 2021, significant progress on the development of long pulse steady state scenario and its related key physics and technologies have been achieved, including the reproducible 403 s long-pulse steady-state H-mode plasma with pure radio frequency (RF) power heating. A thousand-second time scale (∼1056 s) fully non-inductive plasma with high injected energy up to 1.73 GJ has also been achieved. The EAST operational regime of high βP has been significantly extended (H98y2 > 1.3, βP ∼ 4.0, βN ∼ 2.4 and ne/nGW ∼ 1.0) using RF and neutral beam injection (NBI). The full edge localized mode suppression using the n = 4 resonant magnetic perturbations has been achieved in ITER-like standard type-I ELMy H-mode plasmas with q95 ≈ 3.1 on EAST, extrapolating favorably to the ITER baseline scenario. The sustained large ELM control and stable partial detachment have been achieved with Ne seeding. The underlying physics of plasma-beta effect for error field penetration, where toroidal effect dominates, is disclosed by comparing the results in cylindrical theory and MARS-Q simulation in EAST. Breakdown and plasma initiation at low toroidal electric fields (

Akin to the impact that digital microelectronics had on electronic devices for information technology, digital microfluidics (DMF) was anticipated to transform fluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications. However, despite a wealth of research and publications, electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) DMF has not achieved the anticipated wide adoption, and commercialization has been painfully slow. By identifying the technological and resource hurdles in developing DMF chip and control systems as the culprit, we envision democratizing DMF by building a standardized design and manufacturing platform. To achieve this vision, we introduce a proof-of-concept cloud platform that empowers any user to design, obtain, and operate DMF chips (https://edroplets.org). For chip design, we establish a web-based EWOD chip design platform with layout rules and automated wire routing. For chip manufacturing, we build a web-based EWOD chip manufacturing platform and fabricate four types of EWOD chips (i.e., glass, paper, PCB, and TFT) to demonstrate the foundry service workflow. For chip control, we introduce a compact EWOD control system along with web-based operating software. Although industrial fabrication services are beyond the scope of this work, we hope this perspective will inspire academic and commercial stakeholders to join the initiative toward a DMF ecosystem for the masses.

Elearning in a blended learning approach provides enormous opportunities for working nurses to further their studies and enhance their professional development and life-long learning. To date, the impact of self-directed learning (SDL) abilities among working nurses in elearning education in Malaysia remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the relationship between SDL abilities and elearning outcomes, as well as the mediating effect of student satisfaction between the variables. This is a cross-sectional quantitative correlational study using a predictive design and multivariate analysis method. A stratified random sampling technique was applied to recruit 241 nursing students through an online survey. The Self-Directed Learning Instrument (SDLI) and an elearning course evaluation survey were used to measure the independent and dependent variables of the study. The variance-based Partial Least Squares Structural Modeling (PLS-SEM) method was employed to analyse the possible effects on the relationships among the variables studied. The findings revealed statistically significant relationships among SDL abilities, student satisfaction, and elearning outcome. A total effect of 62.4% is predicted for SDL abilities on elearning outcomes through student satisfaction. This study highlights the vital role of SDL abilities for online learners' success. A collaborative effort between universities and faculty and support personnel is essential to ensure successful, continuous elearning education for student nurses. We recommend that future studies explore other possible factors in the model that could help to enhance successful elearning in nursing education.

This research presents an investigation on the utilization of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) with Project-Based Learning as experiment class treatment and project-based learning as control class treatment to investigate students' critical thinking in optical instruments lessons, with a particular focus on the development of handmade projectors. In Indonesian schools, where there is a lack of integration of the STEM and learning activity itself, it is still in the form of a direct transfer of knowledge from teachers to students. This research used quantitative research with a quasi-experimental design. The method for data collection is purposive random sampling. The research participant consists of 60 eighth-grade middle high school students in Bandung chosen based on a purposive random sampling technique. The data is obtained through five open-ended essay questions about critical thinking skills. The result shows that the independent t-test for students' critical thinking is 0.081, which means there are no significant differences between the control and experiment classes. However, in the STEM Project-based learning model, The N-gain of students' critical thinking skills is 0.718, which is a high improvement. Moreover, on Project-Based Learning, the N-gain of students' critical thinking skills is 0.660, which is a medium improvement.

Field experiences provide opportunities for early childhood and early childhood special education (EC/ECSE) educators to implement effective practices in learning settings, and are, therefore, a vital part of EC/ECSE teacher preparation. In this article, we describe field placement models from four universities in the United States: The Bridge Project, Getting Started Early, Peer Coaching to Increase Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions, and University Supervisors Coaching Teacher Candidates: Supporting Young Bi/Multilingual Children with Disabilities. Although there is variety in the settings and effective practices supported through these field placements, performance feedback and collaboration are clear themes across models.

Lusheng is a traditional wind musical instrument cherished by various ethnic minorities in China. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of Lusheng Chinese musical instruments in promoting literacy through educational functions and transmission. Conducted in Guizhou Province, a region rich in ethnic diversity, this study employs qualitative methods and engages two key informants who are local artisans with interview and observation forms. The data analysis reveals multifaceted insights into Lusheng's transmission and promotion. Findings highlight the challenges posed by modernization to traditional craftsmanship, emphasizing the urgency of preserving Lusheng production skills. The inclusion of Lusheng in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list and the establishment of educational programs in primary, and secondary schools, and universities underscore the government's commitment to safeguarding Lusheng culture. Moreover, the research underscores the transformative impact of modern media on Lusheng's dissemination, and cross-cultural engagement is recognized as vital for expanding its influence. Balancing tradition and innovation remains a challenge. The study suggests collaborative efforts among government, academia, and society to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy, ensuring the continued transmission and promotion of Lusheng culture.

This study aims to explore whether the creativity of university students in Higher Vocational Education in China can enhance their creative performance through autonomous motivation. The theoretical foundation of this study is interactionist model of creativity, the study employs structural equation modeling for analysis and validation. A survey assessing creativity, creative performance, and autonomous motivation was administered to students from higher vocational schools in China, yielding a valid sample of 392. The overall model results indicate that the creativity of vocational college students has a significant positive impact on creative performance, creativity positively predicted autonomous motivation, which enhanced creative performance. The autonomous motivation partially mediates the relationship between creativity and creative performance. The findings recommend that higher vocational institutions initiate creative activities to foster students' creativity and continuously bolster their autonomous motivation, thus enhancing the creative performance of future technical and skilled professionals -- vocational college students.

The study focuses on the preservation and transmission of Gannan Tea Picking Opera knowledge after the Cultural Revolution in 1949 using qualitative research methods such as interviews and observations with seven key informants. The following findings were obtained, which can be divided into three distinct periods: The tortuous development phase from 1949 to 1966 marked significant growth and development, with the establishment of specialized schools and the implementation of the "three reforms" contributing to knowledge transmission and preservation. The survival dilemma period from 1966 to 1976 during the Cultural Revolution imposed constraints on artistic expression, but the return of artists from rural areas and their role in recruiting apprentices supported the continuity of Gannan Tea Picking Opera. Finally, the Ganzhou Gannan Tea Picking Opera Troupe and educational institutions contributed to the revival of this traditional art form during the period of rebirth from 1976 to 2023. Retired artists continue to play a vital role in knowledge preservation and dissemination, reflecting the enduring resilience of Gannan Tea Picking Opera.

The Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) summer research program at The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) is a six-week, cancer-focused, summer research experience for high school students from historically marginalized populations in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Cancer affects all populations and continues to be the second leading cause of death in the United States, and a large number of disparities impact racial and ethnic minorities, including increased cancer incidence and mortality. Critically, strategies to bolster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are needed to address persistent cancer disparities. The ACE program offers an educational opportunity for a population of students who otherwise would not have easy access onto a medical center campus to make connections with cancer physicians and researchers and provides a vital response to the need for a more diverse and expansive oncology workforce. Students grow their technical, social, and professional skills and develop self-efficacy and long-lasting connections that help them matriculate and persist through post-secondary education. Developed in 2018, the ACE program has trained 37 high school junior and senior students. This article describes the need for and how we successfully developed and implemented the ACE program.

Self-determination is a complex process with several components, such as making choices and independence. However, limited research on self-determination has focused on individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. This study aimed to support independent leisure engagement and choice-making of leisure activities for this population by using a visual support intervention package, including the use of a visual activity schedule, video modeling, structured environment, preference assessment, and prompt procedures. The study used a single case research multiple baseline probe design to test the effectiveness of the intervention on three adults with autism spectrum disorder. Findings showed that implementing the visual support package was effective in promoting independent leisure engagement and facilitating choice-making of leisure activities. The study highlights the need for and advantages of incorporating video modeling and preference assessment into the visual activity schedule for this particular population.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using AI-assisted game-based learning on science learning outcomes, intrinsic motivation, cognitive load, and learning behavior. A total of 202 seventh graders were recruited and randomly assigned to the following three groups: (1) Game only (N = 70), (2) GameGPT (N = 63), and (3) GameGPT_examples (N = 69). The experimental groups received game-based learning with the assistance of ChatGPT with or without examples, while the control group received only game-based learning. The results showed that students in the GameGPT_examples group significantly outperformed those in the Game only group. Students in the GameGPT and GameGPT_examples groups reported significantly higher perceived competence than those in the Game only group. Furthermore, students in the Game only group reported a greater mental burden than those in the GameGPT_examples and GameGPT groups. The findings from learning behavioral analytics and interviews suggest that AI-assisted game-based learning can enhance students' intrinsic motivation, reduce cognitive load, and promote effective learning behavior in science learning. This study has important implications for the design and implementation of AI in game-based learning environments that aim to improve students' learning outcomes and motivation.

Given the severe pollution caused by traditional plastics, biodegradable plastic products (BPPs) have received great attention and are appearing in people's lives in the form of packaging bags, tableware, etc. Whether a wide variety of BPPs can truly degrade depends on the environment. Aerobic composting is the arbitration method to evaluate the degradability of BPPs in a premarket review, so only the aerobic degradability of BPPs can be guaranteed. Anaerobic digestion has become an irreplaceable part of the global carbon cycle and a mainstream technique to dispose of organic wastes. However, little attention has been given to the anaerobic degradation of BPPs, which may cause environmental pollution if BPPs are not degraded within a short time period. Students are not aware of these issues. Therefore, the teacher carried out teaching reforms in biochemistry course by designing anaerobic degradation of commercially available BPPs as a laboratory exercise for undergraduate students to form a correct understanding of the actual anaerobic degradation performance of BPPs, establish a more comprehensive theoretical knowledge framework of catabolism in biochemistry course, and train their hands-on ability and operation skills. This paper provides an introduction to the experimental design and teaching process of the anaerobic degradation of BPPs, and the results show that the degradation degree and rate are closely related to the components of BPPs. The results of the quizzes and questionnaires show that teaching reform is not only beneficial for deepening students' impression and understanding of anaerobic catabolism from ubiquitous BPPs in everyday life but also helpful for promoting their environmental awareness by selecting and using BPPs with better degradability. This teaching reform offers references and guidance for the teaching practice in courses like biochemistry, environmental microbiology, environmental chemistry, and waste treatment.

Attention to the disconnection between culture and mathematics has been addressed then and now (Wilder (in: Graves et al., Proceedings of the international congress of mathematicians, American Mathematical Society, 1950; Liu in Taiwan Journal of Mathematics Education, 8:79-88, 2021b). Recently, studies, workshops, and contests about an approach to relating culture and mathematics, such as incorporating mathematics history or mathematics writings in class, have emerged. However, although the effectiveness of such an approach was proved, employing it as instruction was still significantly ignored, not to mention the approach to creating mathematics literary writings--the goal that the Mathematics-Literature Contest aimed to achieve. Additionally, no empirical studies have systematically assessed the contest, especially from the cultural perspective. Through teachers' and students' perceptions, this qualitative case study aims to examine the impact of mathematics literary writings on the development of mathematics teaching/learning and the mathematics culture represented in the contest. Ten teachers and 20 students were interviewed. Data were analyzed by following Yin's five phases (2016). The study visualizes an evolutionary model of the contest, signifying the development of mathematics culture simultaneously. Results demonstrated that the contest caused teachers and students, who constituted the internal force, to consolidate the mathematics culture, which was enriched by the external force--to reinterpret the connection between mathematics as well as culture and the reform of general education. The developed mathematics culture included elements other than mathematics, such as the Chinese writings and their interactions with mathematics and life experiences. The findings hold implications for mathematics and general education: An interdisciplinary curriculum design can help cultivate teachers' and students' intellectual acumen; higher education communities worldwide must follow the trend.

The integration of education and robotics has emerged as a crucial development in the technological landscape. This study focuses on the use of a robot teaching assistant to enhance the learning efficiency of 8th-grade students in hands-on STEM activities centered around the theme of "Smart City." It explores the impact of educational robots on students' learning outcomes and their development of hands-on skills through diverse learning methods. Conducted over 12 weeks with 103 participants, the study employed a quasi-experimental design. Students were split into two groups: The Experimental Group (EG), using the 6E model with robot teaching assistants, and the Control Group (CG), using only the 6E model. The analysis of covariance revealed that the EG exhibited superior performance in STEM knowledge, motivation, and hands-on skills compared to the CG. Further analysis indicated that learning motivation significantly influenced hands-on performance in the EG, particularly in high-scoring subgroups. The findings suggest that combining the 6E model with educational robots effectively enhances STEM learning and student engagement. Educational robots as teaching assistants not only aid in knowledge acquisition but also significantly boost students' motivation and hands-on skill development. This implies a promising direction for integrating advanced technology in educational practices to foster more effective learning environments.

Parents and teachers are significant authority figures that substantially impact adolescents' psychological and cognitive development, including their creativity. The current study investigated the relationship between adolescents' attitudes toward authority (parents and teachers) and innovative behavior and examined the mediating effects of social support and perspective taking. According to attachment theory, adolescents' attitudes toward authority may derive from early interaction with primary caregivers, primarily parents. Individuals internalize these interaction experiences and form internal working models, which will be applied in later life stages when interacting with authority figures. These early life experiences also influence individuals' sense of support and empathy abilities. Through analyzing a sample comprising 1,498 adolescents from Taiwan, this study unveils a significant association between adolescents' perceptions of authority and their proclivity for innovative conduct, as well as their levels of social support and capacity for perspective taking. Employing structural equation modeling (SEM), the empirical findings accentuate the mediating role of social support and perspective taking in delineating the nexus between adolescents' attitude toward authority and their manifestation of innovative behavior. The results revealed that adolescents with positive attitudes toward authority are likely to sense support, stand from other viewpoints, and further benefit creativity.

Based on expectancy-value theory, this study adopted a person-centred approach to explore the heterogeneous profiles of secondary German and Taiwanese students' mathematical modelling task values, and examined the differences in their mathematical modelling performance, controlling for the variable of intra-mathematical knowledge among the heterogeneous profiles. Authors conducted a survey study of 452 ninth graders (201 German students and 251 Taiwanese students). The results showed that German and Taiwanese students respectively displayed three profiles of mathematical modelling task values: a) moderate utility and moderate interest/attainment, b) high utility but low interest/attainment, and c) low utility but high interest/attainment. Furthermore, different profiles of mathematical modelling task values showed significant differences in mathematical modelling performance for Taiwanese students but not for German students, even after removing the variable of intra-mathematical knowledge. This study advances the understanding of students' mathematical modelling task values and its relation with their mathematical modelling performance by the expectancy-value model of achievement motivation and person-centred analyses, and sheds light on the learning and teaching of mathematical modelling.

Due to core challenges in social communication experienced by many young children with autism, children on the spectrum who are also dual language learners (DLLs) may benefit from developmentally-appropriate language supports in school settings. The current study examined whether home language status moderated the effect of a play-based intervention, JASPER, delivered in the classroom, in children with autism. Fifty-nine preschool children with autism received JASPER over eight weeks. Children who received JASPER improved significantly more in their language skills from entry to exit than children in preschool as usual. Home language status moderated the effect of treatment on receptive language where children of diverse linguistic backgrounds made greater gains in receptive language.

Number sense is fundamental to the development of numerical problem-solving skills. In early childhood, children establish associations between non-symbolic (e.g., a set of dots) and symbolic (e.g., Arabic numerals) representations of quantity. The developmental estrangement theory proposes that the relationship between non-symbolic and symbolic representations of quantity evolves with age, with increased dissociation across development. Consistent with this theory, recent research suggests that cross-format neural representational similarity (NRS) between non-symbolic and symbolic quantities is correlated with arithmetic fluency in children but not in adolescents. However, it is not known if short-term training (STT) can induce similar changes as long-term development. In this study, children aged 7-10 years underwent a theoretically motivated 4-week number sense training. Using multivariate neural pattern analysis, we investigated whether short-term learning could modify the relation between cross-format NRS and arithmetic skills. Our results revealed a significant correlation between cross-format NRS and arithmetic fluency in distributed brain regions, including the parietal and prefrontal cortices, prior to training. However, this association was no longer observed after training, and multivariate predictive models confirmed these findings. Our findings provide evidence that intensive STT during early childhood can promote behavioral improvements and neural plasticity that resemble and recapitulate long-term neurodevelopmental changes that occur from childhood to adolescence. More generally, our study contributes to our understanding of the malleability of number sense and highlights the potential for targeted interventions to shape neurodevelopmental trajectories in early childhood.

Although identifying the referents of single words is often cited as a key challenge for getting word learning off the ground, it overlooks the fact that young learners consistently encounter words in the context of other words. How does this company help or hinder word learning? Prior investigations into early word learning from children's real-world language input have yielded conflicting results, with some influential findings suggesting an advantage for words that keep a diverse company of other words, and others suggesting the opposite. Here, we sought to triangulate the source of this conflict, comparing different measures of diversity and approaches to controlling for correlated effects of word frequency across multiple languages. The results were striking: while different diversity measures on their own yielded conflicting results, once nonlinear relationships with word frequency were controlled, we found convergent evidence that contextual consistency supports early word learning.

In the current article, we describe the development and validation of the Social Comparison Rumination Scale. This measured was developed as a supplement to existing social comparison measures and to enable us to determine its potential relevance to perfectionism and other personality constructs. The Social Comparison Rumination Scale (SCRS) is a six-item inventory assessing the extent to which an individual is cognitively preoccupied and thinking repetitively about social comparison outcomes and information. Three studies with five samples of university students are described. Psychometric analyses established the SCRS consists of one factor assessed with high internal consistency and the measure is reliable and valid. Analyses showed that elevated levels of social comparison rumination are associated with trait perfectionism, perfectionistic automatic thoughts, perfectionistic self-presentation, ruminative brooding, burnout, depression, and fear of negative evaluation. Links were also established between social comparison rumination and both narcissism and dispositional envy. Overall, our findings support the further use of the SCRS and highlight the tendency of many people to think in deleterious ways about social comparisons long after the actual comparisons have taken place. We discuss social comparison rumination within the context of concerns about excessive social media use and young people being exposed to seemingly perfect lives that became a vexing cognitive preoccupation.

Teaching elementary students how to read is undeniably crucial, yet a substantial number of children encounter difficulties despite early interventions. Cross-age tutoring, a pedagogical approach that pairs older students with younger peers, emerges as a cost-effective solution that brings academic and social benefits to both the tutor and the tutee. Consequently, cross-age tutoring programs are widely adopted globally. To maximize the effectiveness of cross-age tutoring, we offer five evidence-based recommendations tailored for its implementation. When integrated into the preparation and implementation steps, these recommendations hold the potential to significantly improve learning outcomes for both tutors and tutees.

This study aims to examine the relationship among motivation for joining an educational leadership training programme (MOT), perceived skills (PS), and perceived changes in transformational leadership (PCTFL) in educational leadership training. The study drew on survey data from 761 participants who were associated with a leadership development programme under an EU-China cooperation project. The conceptual model was tested by structural equation modelling (SEM) by the Mplus programme. MOT and PCTFL were measured, respectively, by second-order factor structure assessments due to their multi-dimensional nature. The findings of the study suggest that motivation positively influences perceived changes in transformational leadership, and this relationship is positively mediated by perceived skills as learning gains in educational leadership training. The study provides novel empirical evidence on motivation that leads to transformational leadership changes in leadership training programmes. Policymakers and other key stakeholders can use these findings to gain a deeper understanding of the success of projects and encourage academic members to participate in leadership training programmes to improve transformational leadership.

This study surveyed 183 college and senior high school students' graph-interpretation competence in scientific and daily contexts. Specifically, whether students' graph interpretation in scientific and daily contexts differed across educational levels was investigated. Furthermore, the questions of whether students' graph interpretation competence in scientific contexts might predict their graph interpretation in daily contexts were explored. Other factors including age and gender were also considered and examined to discern significant factor(s) predicting graph interpretation competence in daily contexts. Results indicated that there were statistically significant differences across educational levels in terms of graph interpretation competence in both scientific and daily contexts. Furthermore, the students' graph interpretation competence was related between scientific and daily contexts. The important factors predicting students' graph interpretation in daily contexts include age and graph-interpretation in scientific literacy. Implications are discussed.

Abstract: Tributyltin (TBT) is a synthetic chemical widely used in industrial and commercial applications. TBT exposure has been proven to elicit obesogenic effects. Gestational exposure led to increased white adipose tissue depot size in exposed (F1, F2) animals and in unexposed generations (F3, F4), an example of transgenerational inheritance. TBT exerts these effects, in part, by increasing the number and size of white adipocytes, by altering the fate of multipotent mesenchymal stromal stem cells to favor the adipocyte lineage, by altering adipokine secretion and by modulating chromatin structure. Adipose tissue resident macrophages are critical regulators in adipose tissue; however, the effects of TBT on adipose tissue macrophages remained unclear. Here we investigated the effects of TBT on macrophages and consequent impacts on adipocyte function. TBT significantly enhanced palmitate-induced inflammatory gene expression in mouse bone marrow derived macrophages and this effect was attenuated by antagonizing action of the nuclear receptor, PPARγ. TBT-treated macrophages decreased lipid accumulation in white adipocytes differentiated from MSCs accompanied by increased expression of lipolysis genes. Lastly, ancestral TBT exposure increased Tnf expression in adipose tissue resident macrophages in both exposed (F2) and unexposed (F3) generations, suggesting that TBT exposure led to an inherited predisposition toward inflammatory adipose tissue macrophages that can manipulate adipose tissue function. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between adipocytes and adipose tissue macrophages in obesity, further establishing a role for obesogens such as TBT in the development of obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Timely and effective interventions after tracheal mucosal injury are lack in clinical practices, which elevate the risks of airway infection, tracheal cartilage deterioration, and even asphyxiated death. Herein, we proposed a biomaterial-based strategy for the repair of injured tracheal mucosal based on a copper hydrogen phosphate nanosheets (CuHP NSs) functionalized commercial hydrogel (polyethylene glycol disuccinimidyl succinate-human serum albumin, PH). Such CuHP/PH hydrogel achieved favorable injectability, stable gelation, and excellent adhesiveness within the tracheal lumen. Moreover, CuHP NSs within the CuHP/PH hydrogel effectively stimulate the proliferation and migration of endothelial/epithelial cells, enhancing angiogenesis and demonstrating excellent tissue regenerative potential. Additionally, it exhibited significant inhibitory effects on both bacteria and bacterial biofilms. More importantly, when injected injured site of tracheal mucosa under fiberoptic bronchoscopy guidance, our results demonstrated CuHP/PH hydrogel adhered tightly to the tracheal mucosa. The therapeutic effects of the CuHP/PH hydrogel were further confirmed, which significantly improved survival rates, vascular and mucosal regeneration, reduced occurrences of intraluminal infections, tracheal stenosis, and cartilage damage complications. This research presents an initial proposition outlining a strategy employing biomaterials to mitigate tracheal mucosal injury, offering novel perspectives on the treatment of mucosal injuries and other tracheal diseases.

Analog reservoir computing (ARC) systems have attracted attention owing to their efficiency in processing temporal information. However, the distinct functionalities of the system components pose challenges for hardware implementation. Herein, we report a fully integrated ARC system that leverages material versatility of the ferroelectric-to-mixed phase boundary (MPB) hafnium zirconium oxides integrated onto indium-gallium-zinc oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs). MPB-based TFTs (MPBTFTs) with nonlinear short-term memory characteristics are utilized for physical reservoirs and artificial neuron, while nonvolatile ferroelectric TFTs mimic synaptic behavior for readout networks. Furthermore, double-gate configuration of MPBTFTs enhances reservoir state differentiation and state expansion for physical reservoir and processes both excitatory and inhibitory pulses for neuronal functionality with minimal hardware burden. The seamless integration of ARC components on a single wafer executes complex real-world time-series predictions with a low normalized root mean squared error of 0.28. The material-device co-optimization proposed in this study paves the way for the development of area- and energy-efficient ARC systems.

BACKGROUND: To prospectively evaluate ultrasound backscatter coefficients (BSCs) of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and compare with Goutallier classification on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Fifty-six participants had shoulder MRI exams and ultrasound exams of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Goutallier MRI grades were determined and BSCs were measured. Group means were compared and the strength of relationships between the measures were determined. Using binarized Goutallier groups (0-2 versus 3-4), areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were calculated. The nearest integer cutoff value was determined using Youdens index. RESULTS: BSC values were significantly different among most Goutallier grades for the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles (both p

Since its inception nearly a half century ago, CHARMM has been playing a central role in computational biochemistry and biophysics. Commensurate with the developments in experimental research and advances in computer hardware, the range of methods and applicability of CHARMM have also grown. This review summarizes major developments that occurred after 2009 when the last review of CHARMM was published. They include the following: new faster simulation engines, accessible user interfaces for convenient workflows, and a vast array of simulation and analysis methods that encompass quantum mechanical, atomistic, and coarse-grained levels, as well as extensive coverage of force fields. In addition to providing the current snapshot of the CHARMM development, this review may serve as a starting point for exploring relevant theories and computational methods for tackling contemporary and emerging problems in biomolecular systems. CHARMM is freely available for academic and nonprofit research at https://academiccharmm.org/program.

Successful integration of point-of-care testing (POCT) into clinical settings requires improved assay sensitivity and precision to match laboratory standards. Here, we show how innovations in amplified biosensing, imaging, and data processing, coupled with deep learning, can help improve POCT. To demonstrate the performance of our approach, we present a rapid and cost-effective paper-based high-sensitivity vertical flow assay (hs-VFA) for quantitative measurement of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a biomarker widely used for measuring acute cardiac damage and assessing cardiovascular risk. The hs-VFA includes a colorimetric paper-based sensor, a portable reader with time-lapse imaging, and computational algorithms for digital assay validation and outlier detection. Operating at the level of a rapid at-home test, the hs-VFA enabled the accurate quantification of cTnI using 50 μL of serum within 15 min per test and achieved a detection limit of 0.2 pg/mL, enabled by gold ion amplification chemistry and time-lapse imaging. It also achieved high precision with a coefficient of variation of

Biallelic loss of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) defines a metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) subtype. It remains unclear, however, whether CDK12 loss drives prostate cancer (PCa) development or uncovers pharmacologic vulnerabilities. Here, we show Cdk12 ablation in murine prostate epithelium is sufficient to induce preneoplastic lesions with lymphocytic infiltration. In allograft-based CRISPR screening, Cdk12 loss associates positively with Trp53 inactivation but negatively with Pten inactivation. Moreover, concurrent Cdk12/Trp53 ablation promotes proliferation of prostate-derived organoids, while Cdk12 knockout in Pten-null mice abrogates prostate tumor growth. In syngeneic systems, Cdk12/Trp53-null allografts exhibit luminal morphology and immune checkpoint blockade sensitivity. Mechanistically, Cdk12 inactivation mediates genomic instability by inducing transcription-replication conflicts. Strikingly, CDK12-mutant organoids and patient-derived xenografts are sensitive to inhibition or degradation of the paralog kinase, CDK13. We therein establish CDK12 as a bona fide tumor suppressor, mechanistically define how CDK12 inactivation causes genomic instability, and advance a therapeutic strategy for CDK12-mutant mCRPC.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of Crohns disease involves genetic and environmental factors, with the gut microbiome playing a crucial role. The Crohns disease-associated variant rs13107325 in the SLC39A8 gene results in an A391T substitution in the ZIP8 metal ion transporter and has previously been linked to alterations in the colonic microbiome in variant carriers. We hypothesized that the A391T substitution alters metal ion homeostasis in the colonic mucosal-luminal interface, thereby inducing dysbiosis which may promote intestinal inflammation. METHODS: To evaluate this hypothesis, we generated a SLC39A8 A393T mouse model (matching human A391T). We first examined trace element abundance in the colonic mucosal epithelium and lumen of homozygous A393T and wild-type (WT) mice to determine if the variant affected metal distribution. We also performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on colon samples at 2 months, 3-4 months, and 12 months of age, and conducted histological scoring of colon tissue collected from 5-month and 10-month old mice. RESULTS: Consistent with an effect of the variant on ZIP8 function, homozygous A393T mice exhibited increased cobalt in the colonic mucosa, but reduced iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt, copper, and cadmium in the colonic lumen. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of colon samples revealed variant-linked effects on microbiome beta diversity in 2-month-, 3-4-month-, and 12-month-old mice. Histological scoring showed spontaneous intestinal inflammation in 10-month but not in 5-month-old mice. Lastly, predicted pathway analysis of the microbiome samples revealed differential enrichment of iron-, zinc-, and cobalt-dependent pathways in A393T mice compared to wild-type controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the variant in SLC39A8 primarily restricts metal availability to the microbiota, resulting in compositions that can adapt to the environment and that A393T-linked dysbiosis occurs prior to the onset of inflammation. This study paves the way for future studies investigating risk variants as microbiome-disease modifiers.

We proposed an end-to-end deep learning convolutional neural network (DCNN) for region-of-interest based multi-parameter quantification (RMQ-Net) to accelerate quantitative ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI of the knee joint with automatic multi-tissue segmentation and relaxometry mapping. The study involved UTE-based T1 (UTE-T1) and Adiabatic T1ρ (UTE-AdiabT1ρ) mapping of the knee joint of 65 human subjects, including 20 normal controls, 29 with doubtful-minimal osteoarthritis (OA), and 16 with moderate-severe OA. Comparison studies were performed on UTE-T1 and UTE-AdiabT1ρ measurements using 100%, 43%, 26%, and 18% UTE MRI data as the inputs and the effects on the prediction quality of the RMQ-Net. The RMQ-net was modified and retrained accordingly with different combinations of inputs. Both ROI-based and voxel-based Pearson correlation analyses were performed. High Pearson correlation coefficients were achieved between the RMQ-Net predicted UTE-T1 and UTE-AdiabT1ρ results and the ground truth for segmented cartilage with acceleration factors ranging from 2.3 to 5.7. With an acceleration factor of 5.7, the Pearson r-value achieved 0.908 (ROI-based) and 0.945 (voxel-based) for UTE-T1, and 0.733 (ROI-based) and 0.895 (voxel-based) for UTE-AdiabT1ρ, correspondingly. The results demonstrated that RMQ-net can significantly accelerate quantitative UTE imaging with automated segmentation of articular cartilage in the knee joint.

In recent years, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical imaging has become increasingly prominent, with the majority of AI applications approved by the FDA being in imaging and radiology in 2023. The surge in AI model development to tackle clinical challenges underscores the necessity for preparing high-quality medical imaging data. Proper data preparation is crucial as it fosters the creation of standardized and reproducible AI models while minimizing biases. Data curation transforms raw data into a valuable, organized, and dependable resource and is a fundamental process to the success of machine learning and analytical projects. Considering the plethora of available tools for data curation in different stages, it is crucial to stay informed about the most relevant tools within specific research areas. In the current work, we propose a descriptive outline for different steps of data curation while we furnish compilations of tools collected from a survey applied among members of the Society of Imaging Informatics (SIIM) for each of these stages. This collection has the potential to enhance the decision-making process for researchers as they select the most appropriate tool for their specific tasks.

INTRODUCTION: Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients with chronic liver disease, but little is known regarding medication prescribing patterns of hepatologists. Opioid use increased until national guidelines limited opioid prescriptions in early 2016. We aimed to describe rates of opioid and nonopioid analgesics to Medicare beneficiaries by hepatologists from 2013 to 2017 and identify demographic characteristics associated with higher prescribing. METHODS: Prescription data from 2013 to 2017 by 761 hepatologists identified in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Part D Public Use File were analyzed. Annual prescription volumes were compared for providers with >10 annual prescriptions of a given drug type. Provider characteristics associated with opioid prescriptions were identified through multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The proportion of hepatologists prescribing >10 annual opioid prescriptions decreased from 29% to 20.6%. Median annual opioid prescriptions per hepatologist significantly decreased from 24 to 20. Tramadol remained the most prescribed analgesic. Nonopioid analgesic prescription volume did not increase significantly. Provider characteristics associated with increased opioid prescriptions included male sex, practice location in the South and Midwest (vs West), more years in practice, and a greater proportion of beneficiaries who are white or with low-income subsidy claims. Characteristics associated with fewer prescriptions included non-university-based practice, having a greater proportion of female beneficiaries, and later prescription year. DISCUSSION: Hepatologists are prescribing less opioids. However, the prevalence of tramadol use and the lack of increase in nonopioid analgesic use highlights the need for advancing the science and training of pain management in chronic liver disease and targeted implementation of nonopioid treatment programs.

The Phase 3 randomized controlled trial, TBTC Study 31/ACTG A5349 (NCT02410772) demonstrated that a 4-month rifapentine-moxifloxacin regimen for drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis was safe and effective. The primary efficacy outcome was 12-month tuberculosis disease free survival, while the primary safety outcome was the proportion of grade 3 or higher adverse events during the treatment period. We conducted an analysis of demographic, clinical, microbiologic, radiographic, and pharmacokinetic data and identified risk factors for unfavorable outcomes and adverse events. Among participants receiving the rifapentine-moxifloxacin regimen, low rifapentine exposure is the strongest driver of tuberculosis-related unfavorable outcomes (HR 0.65 for every 100 µg∙h/mL increase, 95%CI 0.54-0.77). The only other risk factors identified are markers of higher baseline disease severity, namely Xpert MTB/RIF cycle threshold and extent of disease on baseline chest radiography (Xpert: HR 1.43 for every 3-cycle-threshold decrease, 95%CI 1.07-1.91; extensive disease: HR 2.02, 95%CI 1.07-3.82). From these risk factors, we developed a simple risk stratification to classify disease phenotypes as easier-, moderately-harder, or harder-to-treat TB. Notably, high rifapentine exposures are not associated with any predefined adverse safety outcomes. Our results suggest that the easier-to-treat subgroup may be eligible for further treatment shortening while the harder-to-treat subgroup may need higher doses or longer treatment.

This research paper explores the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 on minority groups, focusing on two key aspects: vaccination rates and public trust in the government. Through a comprehensive literature review, the vaccination rates within various minority groups are examined, revealing disparities particularly prevalent among African Americans and refugees. Factors contributing to these disparities, including districts in the government, are identified and analyzed. Additionally, the paper investigates the influence of public health policies on political trust both domestically and internationally. By studying different policies implemented during the pandemic, the research aims to assess their effectiveness in fostering public trust and enhancing the overall welfare of the population. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between COVID-19, minority communities, vaccination rates, public trust, and governmental policies, offering valuable insights for future policy-making efforts.

IntroductionIn academic breast surgery, ultrasound use tends to be limited to radiology departments, thus formal surgical resident training in breast ultrasound is sparse. Building on residents' ultrasound skills in our general surgery training program, we developed a novel curriculum to teach ultrasound-guided breast procedures (UGBPs), including core needle biopsy (CNB) and wire localization (WL). We hypothesized that learning UGBPs on cadavers would be preferred to learning with a breast phantom model using chicken breasts.MethodsResidents received a 1-h lecture on breast CNB and WL followed by a 1-h hands-on laboratory session. Olives stuffed with red pimentos were used to replicate breast masses and implanted in chicken breasts and the breasts of lightly embalmed and unembalmed female cadavers. All residents practiced UGBPs with a course instructor on both models. Residents completed anonymous prelaboratory and postlaboratory surveys utilizing five-point Likert scales.ResultsA total of 35 trainees participated in the didactics; all completed the prelaboratory survey and 28 completed the postlaboratory survey. Participant clinical year ranged from 1 to 6. Residents' confidence in describing and performing CNBs and WLs increased significantly on postlaboratory surveys, controlling for clinical year (P

Copper plays a key role in host-pathogen interaction. We find that during Leishmania major infection, the parasite-harboring macrophage regulates its copper homeostasis pathway in a way to facilitate copper-mediated neutralization of the pathogen. Copper-ATPase ATP7A transports copper to amastigote-harboring phagolysosomes to induce stress on parasites. Leishmania in order to evade the copper stress, utilizes a variety of manipulative measures to lower the host-induced copper stress. It induces deglycosylation and degradation of host-ATP7A and downregulation of copper importer, CTR1 by cysteine oxidation. Additionally, Leishmania induces CTR1 endocytosis that arrests copper uptake. In mouse model of infection, we report an increase in systemic bioavailable copper in infected animals. Heart acts as the major organ for diverting its copper reserves to systemic circulation to fight-off infection by downregulating its CTR1. Our study explores reciprocal mechanism of manipulation of host copper homeostasis pathway by macrophage and Leishmania to gain respective advantages in host-pathogen interaction.

The isotopic compositions of samples returned from Cb-type asteroid Ryugu and Ivuna-type (CI) chondrites are distinct from other carbonaceous chondrites, which has led to the suggestion that Ryugu/CI chondrites formed in a different region of the accretion disk, possibly around the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. We show that, like for Fe, Ryugu and CI chondrites also have indistinguishable Ni isotope anomalies, which differ from those of other carbonaceous chondrites. We propose that this unique Fe and Ni isotopic composition reflects different accretion efficiencies of small FeNi metal grains among the carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies. The CI chondrites incorporated these grains more efficiently, possibly because they formed at the end of the disks lifetime, when planetesimal formation was also triggered by photoevaporation of the disk. Isotopic variations among carbonaceous chondrites may thus reflect fractionation of distinct dust components from a common reservoir, implying CI chondrites/Ryugu may have formed in the same region of the accretion disk as other carbonaceous chondrites.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. The acquisition of multimodal magnetic resonance-based brain development data is central to the studys core protocol. However, application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods in this population is complicated by technical challenges and difficulties of imaging in early life. Overcoming these challenges requires an innovative and harmonized approach, combining age-appropriate acquisition protocols together with specialized pediatric neuroimaging strategies. The HBCD MRI Working Group aimed to establish a core acquisition protocol for all 27 HBCD Study recruitment sites to measure brain structure, function, microstructure, and metabolites. Acquisition parameters of individual modalities have been matched across MRI scanner platforms for harmonized acquisitions and state-of-the-art technologies are employed to enable faster and motion-robust imaging. Here, we provide an overview of the HBCD MRI protocol, including decisions of individual modalities and preliminary data. The result will be an unparalleled resource for examining early neurodevelopment which enables the larger scientific community to assess normative trajectories from birth through childhood and to examine the genetic, biological, and environmental factors that help shape the developing brain.

We present a TALEN-based workflow to generate and maintain dual-edited (IL-15+/+/TGFβR2-/-) iPSCs that produce enhanced iPSC-derived natural killer (iNK) cells for cancer immunotherapy. It involves using a cell lineage promoter for knocking in (KI) gene(s) to minimize the potential effects of expression of any exogenous genes on iPSCs. As a proof-of-principle, we KI IL-15 under the endogenous B2M promoter and show that it results in high expression of the sIL-15 in iNK cells but minimal expression in iPSCs. Furthermore, given that it is known that knockout (KO) of TGFβR2 in immune cells can enhance resistance to the suppressive TGF-β signaling in the tumor microenvironment, we develop a customized medium containing Nodal that can maintain the pluripotency of iPSCs with TGFβR2 KO, enabling banking of these iPSC clones. Ultimately, we show that the dual-edited IL-15+/+/TGFβR2-/- iPSCs can be efficiently differentiated into NK cells that show enhanced autonomous growth and are resistant to the suppressive TGF-β signaling.

Ferroelectric HfO2-based thin films have attracted much interest in the utilization of ferroelectricity at the nanoscale for next-generation electronic devices. However, the structural origin and stabilization mechanism of the ferroelectric phase are not understood because the film is typically nanocrystalline with active yet stochastic ferroelectric domains. Here, electron microscopy is used to map the in-plane domain network structures of epitaxially grown ferroelectric Y:HfO2 films in atomic resolution. The ferroelectricity is confirmed in free-standing Y:HfO2 films, allowing for investigating the structural origin for their ferroelectricity by 4D-STEM, high-resolution STEM, and iDPC-STEM. At the grain boundaries of -oriented Pca21 orthorhombic grains, a high-symmetry mixed-(R3m, Pnm21) phase is induced, exhibiting enhanced polarization due to in-plane compressive strain. Nanoscale Pca21 orthorhombic grains and their grain boundaries with mixed-(R3m, Pnm21) phases of higher symmetry cooperatively determine the ferroelectricity of the Y:HfO2 film. It is also found that such ferroelectric domain networks emerge when the film thickness is beyond a finite value. Furthermore, in-plane mapping of oxygen positions overlaid on ferroelectric domains discloses that polarization is suppressed at vertical domain walls, while it is active when domains are aligned horizontally with subangstrom domain walls. In addition, randomly distributed 180° charged domain walls are confined by spacer layers.

UNLABELLED: During pilus assembly within the Gram-positive bacterial envelope, membrane-bound sortase enzymes sequentially crosslink specific pilus protein monomers through their cell wall sorting signals (CWSS), starting with a designated tip pilin, followed by the shaft made of another pilin, ultimately anchoring the fiber base pilin to the cell wall. To date, the molecular determinants that govern pilus tip assembly and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. Here, we addressed this in the model organism Actinomyces oris. This oral microbe assembles a pathogenically important pilus (known as type 2 fimbria) whose shafts, made of FimA pilins, display one of two alternate tip pilins-FimB or the coaggregation factor CafA-that share a markedly similar CWSS. We demonstrate that swapping the CWSS of CafA with that of FimB produces a functional hybrid, which localizes at the pilus tip and mediates polymicrobial coaggregation, whereas alanine-substitution of the conserved FLIAG motif within the CWSS hampers these processes. Remarkably, swapping the CWSS of the normal cell wall-anchored glycoprotein GspA with that of CafA promotes the assembly of hybrid GspA at the FimA pilus tip. Finally, exchanging the CWSS of the Corynebacterium diphtheriae shaft pilin SpaA with that of CafA leads to the FLIAG motif-dependent localization of the heterologous pilus protein SpaA at the FimA pilus tip in A. oris. Evidently, the CWSS and the FLIAG motif of CafA are both necessary and sufficient for its destination to the cognate pilus tip specifically assembled by a designated sortase in the organism. IMPORTANCE: Gram-positive pili, whose precursors harbor a cell wall sorting signal (CWSS) needed for sortase-mediated pilus assembly, typically comprise a pilus shaft and a tip adhesin. How a pilin becomes a pilus tip, nevertheless, remains undetermined. We demonstrate here in Actinomyces oris that the CWSS of the tip pilin CafA is necessary and sufficient to promote pilus tip assembly, and this functional assembly involves a conserved FLIAG motif within the CWSS. This is evidenced by the fact that an A. oris cell-wall anchored glycoprotein, GspA, or a heterologous shaft pilin from Corynebacterium diphtheriae, SpaA, engineered to have the CWSS of CafA in place of their CWSS, localizes at the pilus tip in a process that requires the FLIAG motif. Our findings provide the molecular basis for sortase-catalyzed pilus tip assembly that is very likely employed by other Gram-positive bacteria and potential bioengineering applications to display antigens at controlled surface distance.

Coherent optics has profoundly impacted diverse applications ranging from communications, LiDAR to quantum computations. However, developing coherent systems in integrated photonics comes at great expense in hardware integration and energy efficiency. Here we demonstrate a high-coherence parallelization strategy for advanced integrated coherent systems at minimal cost. By using a self-injection locked microcomb to injection lock distributed feedback lasers, we achieve a record high on-chip gain of 60 dB with no degradation in coherence. This strategy enables highly coherent channels with linewidths down to 10 Hz and power over 20 dBm. The overall electrical-to-optical efficiency reaches 19%, comparable to that of advanced semiconductor lasers. This method supports a silicon photonic communication link with an unprecedented data rate beyond 60 Tbit/s and reduces phase-related DSP consumption by 99.99999% compared to traditional III-V laser pump schemes. This work paves the way for realizing scalable, high-performance coherent integrated photonic systems, potentially benefiting numerous applications.

While there has been significant progress in controlling falciparum malaria in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR), sporadic cases persist in southern provinces where the extent and patterns of transmission remain largely unknown. To assess parasite transmission in this area, 53 Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) positive cases detected through active test and treat campaigns from December 2017 to November 2018 were sequenced, targeting 204 highly polymorphic amplicons. Two R packages, MOIRE and Dcifer, were applied to assess the multiplicity of infections (MOI), effective MOI (eMOI), within-host parasite relatedness, and between-host parasite relatedness ([Formula: see text]). Genomic data were integrated with survey data to characterize the temporal and spatial structures of identified clusters. The positive cases were mainly captured during the focal test and treat campaign conducted in 2018, and in the Pathoomphone area, which had the highest test positivity and forest activity. About 30% of the cases were polyclonal infections, with over half of theses (63%) showing within-host relatedness greater than 0.6, suggesting that cotransmission rather than superinfection was primarily responsible for maintaining polyclonality. A large majority of cases (81%) were infected by parasites genetically linked to one or more other cases. We identified five genetically distinct clusters in forest fringe villages within the Pathoomphone district, characterized by a high degree of genetic relatedness between parasites (mean [Formula: see text] = 0.8). Four smaller clusters of 2-3 cases linked Moonlapamok and Pathoomphone districts, with an average [Formula: see text] of 0.6, suggesting cross-district transmission. Most of the clustered cases occurred within 20 km and 2 months of each other, consistent with focal transmission. Transmission clusters identified in this study confirm the role of ongoing focal parasite transmission occurring within the forest or forest-fringe in the highly mobile population.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the most common blood-borne infection, disproportionately affects people experiencing homelessness (PEH); however, HCV interventions tailored for PEH are scarce. This study utilized a community-based participatory approach to assess perceptions of HCV treatment experiences among HCV-positive PEH, and homeless service providers (HSP) to develop and tailor the "I am HCV Free" intervention which integrates primary, secondary, and tertiary care to attain and maintain HCV cure. Four focus groups were conducted with PEH (N = 30, Mage = 51.76, standard deviation 11.49, range 22-69) and HSPs (n = 10) in Central City East (Skid Row) in Los Angeles, California. An iterative, thematic approach was used to ensure the trustworthiness of the data. Barriers and facilitators emerged from the data which have the potential to impact initiating HCV treatment and completion across the HCV care continuum. Understanding and addressing barriers and strengthening facilitators to HCV treatment will aid in HCV treatment completion and cure for PEH.

The fundamental trade-off between current and future reproduction has long been considered to result in a tendency for species that can grow large to begin reproduction at a larger size. Due to the prolonged time required to reach maturity, estimates of tree maturation size remain very rare and we lack a global view on the generality and the shape of this trade-off. Using seed production from five continents, we estimate tree maturation sizes for 486 tree species spanning tropical to boreal climates. Results show that a species' maturation size increases with maximum size, but in a non-proportional way: the largest species begin reproduction at smaller sizes than would be expected if maturation were simply proportional to maximum size. Furthermore, the decrease in relative maturation size is steepest in cold climates. These findings on maturation size drivers are key to accurately represent forests' responses to disturbance and climate change.