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Invasive alien species (IAS) threaten biodiversity and human well-being. These threats may increase in the future, necessitating accurate projections of potential locations and the extent of invasions. The main aim of the IAS prototype Digital Twin (IAS pDT) is to dynamically project the level of plant invasion at habitat level across Europe under current and future climates using joint species distribution models. The pDT detects updates in data sources and versions of the datasets and model outputs, implementing the FAIR principles. The pDT's outputs will be available via an interactive dashboard. All input and output data will be freely accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 mpox (formerly monkeypox) outbreak affected predominantly men who have sex with men (MSM), likely through sexual transmission, which resulted in institutions specializing in sexual health being at the frontlines of the mpox outbreak. Fenway Health in Boston serves close to 10 000 MSM annually, which includes more than 2400 MSM who are living with HIV and 3320 MSM with active HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prescriptions. We report on the programs implemented and changes to clinical practice at Fenway Health during the mpox outbreak. Fenway Health diagnosed its first case of mpox in June 2022 and treated this patient with tecovirimat. In early July 2022, Fenway Health administered its first dose of the Jynneos vaccine under the Emergency Use Authorization for protection against mpox. As of October 6, 2022, 69 people had tested positive for the mpox virus at Fenway Health. Among the 69 people who tested positive, 43 (62.3%) self-identified as male, with the remaining not reporting a sex or gender identity, and 40 (58.0%) reported their sexual orientation as gay or bisexual. Twenty-five people (36.2%) were treated with tecovirimat. As of October 30, 2022, Fenway Health had administered 6376 doses of the Jynneos vaccine. The programmatic changes involved in rollout and scale-up of vaccination, treatment, and community outreach services at Fenway Health during the 2022 mpox outbreak that we describe here could inform strategies to address subsequent outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to estimate the magnitude of capital flight from Pakistan. Furthermore, it analyzes the impact of capital flight on the economic growth of Pakistan in the short and long run. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the World Bank's residual method to estimate the magnitude of capital flight from Pakistan during 1976–2018. This study used the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to estimate the effect of capital flight on the economic growth of Pakistan. Findings: ARDL results revealed a negative and statistically significant relationship between different measures of capital flight and economic growth in the long run. However, this relationship is not statistically significant in the short run. After correction for external borrowing and trade misinvoicing, this study finds that the total capital flight from Pakistan during the study period amounted to US$333bn (in 2010 dollars). With accrued interest earnings, the stock of capital amounted to US$124,768bn, significantly higher than the accumulated stock of long-term debt, which amounted to US$1,231bn during the study period indicating that Pakistan faces a severe challenge of capital flight. Originality/value: This study calculates the magnitude of capital flight from Pakistan for the first time. Furthermore, this study also calculates the magnitude of capital flight for military and democratic regimes. This study suggests many policy proposals to deal with the challenge of capital flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A minimum of 170 million individuals worldwide are thought to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common lung illness marked by reversible airflow limitation and chronic inflammation of the airways. Recent research indicated that symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are more prevalent in individuals with COPD. Objective: Objective of the present study was to find out the frequency of GERD in COPD patients. Methodology: The study was conducted at a Rehman medical institute in Pakistan from January 2022 to June 2022, using a cross-sectional design. Data was collected from 160 COPD patients, who underwent a comprehensive clinical examination and history. All these patients were assessed for GERD through a frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (F.S.S.G questionnaire) instead of endoscopy and PH assessment. Spirometry was performed on each patient, and the findings were analyzed by a fellow specialist. The study also determined the frequency of GERD in COPD patients. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Results: The current cross-sectional study includes a total of 160 participants including both males and females selected through a purposive sampling technique. Among them, 63.75% were males and 36.24% were female participants. The overall prevalence of GERD among the participants was 45%. GERD was found in 31.94%, 40.27 % and 16. 66 % among moderate, severe, and very severe cases of COPD. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that GERD was found in 45% of individuals with COPD. This underscores the importance for healthcare providers to thoroughly assess COPD patients for GERD to prevent further complications and enhance their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective, but PrEP use has been suboptimal. We describe a telementoring program for clinics in high-HIV burden areas, focusing on systems-level practice transformation and care for populations disproportionately affected by HIV. We developed and delivered a telementoring program for U.S. health centers. We analyzed participants' baseline and post-session surveys to ascertain experiences providing PrEP and caring for people disproportionately affected by HIV, comparing responses between medical and behavioral health clinicians. Forty-eight people from 16 health centers participated. Medical clinicians were more likely than behavioral health clinicians to care for people taking PrEP, but the groups did not differ in self-rated capacity to counsel about PrEP or care for populations disproportionately affected by HIV. Virtual training on practice transformation for PrEP, involving medical and behavioral health clinicians, is feasible and acceptable. PrEP training and delivery efforts should include behavioral health clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the frequency of Depression in Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal diseases with particular emphasis on gender and compliance to treatment. Study Design: Descriptive, Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Rheumatology at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Period: August 2020 to February 2021. Material & Methods: A total of 189 patients were assessed with their detailed history, examination, and lab data collected. Depressive symptomatology was evaluated using DSM - 4 criteria. SPSS 26 was utilised for data analysis, and a p-value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 131 (69.3%) were female and 58 (31.7%) were male patients. Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis ranked the highest concerning the diagnosis with 128 cases (68.25%). Methotrexate was the most commonly used drug with 134 (70.9%) patients receiving it. A total of 169 (89.4%) patients had Depressive disorder, with females outnumbering males, a finding reaching statistical significance (p=0.04). Conclusion: Undiagnosed Depression is common in patients affected by Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal diseases, especially among the female population. Routine screening for depressive symptoms with subsequent referral to the mental health service may serve detection of this comorbidity and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the frequency of Depression in Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal diseases with particular emphasis on gender and compliance to treatment. Study Design: Descriptive, Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Rheumatology at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Period: August 2020 to February 2021. Material & Methods: A total of 189 patients were assessed with their detailed history, examination, and lab data collected. Depressive symptomatology was evaluated using DSM - 4 criteria. SPSS 26 was utilised for data analysis, and a p-value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 131 (69.3%) were female and 58 (31.7%) were male patients. Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis ranked the highest concerning the diagnosis with 128 cases (68.25%). Methotrexate was the most commonly used drug with 134 (70.9%) patients receiving it. A total of 169 (89.4%) patients had Depressive disorder, with females outnumbering males, a finding reaching statistical significance (p=0.04). Conclusion: Undiagnosed Depression is common in patients affected by Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal diseases, especially among the female population. Routine screening for depressive symptoms with subsequent referral to the mental health service may serve detection of this comorbidity and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan is home to the largest illicit drug industry in the world. The depth, influence, and impact of its narco-economy remain unparalleled. Illicit drug production has become a dominant feature of Afghanistan's landscape. The opium economy is pervasive and deeply entrenched. Afghanistan's opium economy has become the source of security rather than the state. Therefore, the degree of dependence on the opium economy has thus become unprecedented in the modern history of drug production. The dependence means any immediate attempt toward opium poppy prohibition/eradication will result in political and socioeconomic crises not only in Afghanistan but the transit states in the region as well. In context of narco-economy, this paper expostulate that the construction of security in traditional and nontraditional discourse are linear, i.e. detached from reality or suffers from moralistic constraint, and therefore, needs to be revisited in line with ground reality of Afghanistan and transit states at large. Deviating from conventional literature on drug-security nexus, the paper argues that a complete prohibition of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan is by far a larger security concern than its retention. This research paper, therefore, takes a cursory examination of the security implications and challenges that may ensue as a result of a diminished production capacity of Afghanistan's opium economy either experienced through complete prohibition, eradication programs or through natural calamity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]