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This report serves as one of five individual documents developed over the course of Phase II of the Urban Forest Equity Collective. This document provides an overview of the Sylmar pilot neighborhood assessment, engagement, and tree planting implementation process. It is intended to provide a transparent view into the decisions, points of analysis and key themes derived over the course of this phase.

The Arctic poses many challenges for Earth system and snow physics models, which are commonly unable to simulate crucial Arctic snowpack processes,such as vapour gradients and rain-on-snow-induced ice layers. These limitations raise concerns about the current understanding of Arctic warming and its impact on biodiversity, livelihoods, permafrost, and the global carbon budget. Recognizing that models are shaped by human choices, 18 Arctic researchers were interviewed to delve into the decision-making process behind model construction. Although data availability, issues of scale, internal model consistency, and historical and numerical model legacies were cited as obstacles to developing an Arctic snowpack model, no opinion was unanimous. Divergences were not merely scientific disagreements about the Arctic snowpack but reflected the broader research context. Inadequate and insufficient resources, partly driven by short-term priorities dominating research landscapes, impeded progress. Nevertheless, modellers were found to be both adaptable to shifting strategic research priorities – an adaptability demonstrated by the fact that interdisciplinary collaborations were the key motivation for model development – and anchored in the past. This anchoring and non-epistemic values led to diverging opinions about whether existing models were “good enough” and whether investing time and effort to build a new model was a useful strategy when addressing pressing research challenges. Moving forward, we recommend that both stakeholders and modellers be involved in future snow model intercomparison projects in order to drive developments that address snow model limitations currently impeding progress in various disciplines. We also argue for more transparency about the contextual factors that shape research decisions. Otherwise, the reality of our scientific process will remain hidden, limiting the changes necessary to our research practice.

Abstract Therapeutics for traumatic brains injuries constitute a global unmet medical need. Despite the advances in neurocritical care, which have dramatically improved the survival rate for the ~ 70 million patients annually, few treatments have been developed to counter the long-term neuroinflammatory processes and accompanying cognitive impairments, frequent among patients. This review looks at gene delivery as a potential therapeutic development avenue for traumatic brain injury. We discuss the capacity of gene delivery to function in traumatic brain injury, by producing beneficial biologics within the brain. Gene delivery modalities, promising vectors and key delivery routes are discussed, along with the pathways that biological cargos could target to improve long-term outcomes for patients. Coupling blood-brain barrier crossing with sustained local production, gene delivery has the potential to convert proteins with useful biological properties, but poor pharmacodynamics, into effective therapeutics. Finally, we review the limitations and health economics of traumatic brain injury, and whether future gene delivery approaches will be viable for patients and health care systems.

SnowModel, a spatially distributed snow-evolution modeling system, was parallelized using Coarray Fortran for high-performance computing architectures to allow high-resolution (1 m to hundreds of meters) simulations over large regional- to continental-scale domains. In the parallel algorithm, the model domain was split into smaller rectangular sub-domains that are distributed over multiple processor cores using one-dimensional decomposition. All the memory allocations from the original code were reduced to the size of the local sub-domains, allowing each core to perform fewer computations and requiring less memory for each process. Most of the subroutines in SnowModel were simple to parallelize; however, there were certain physical processes, including blowing snow redistribution and components within the solar radiation and wind models, that required non-trivial parallelization using halo-exchange patterns. To validate the parallel algorithm and assess parallel scaling characteristics, high-resolution (100 m grid) simulations were performed over several western United States domains and over the contiguous United States (CONUS) for a year. The CONUS scaling experiment had approximately 70 % parallel efficiency; runtime decreased by a factor of 1.9 running on 1800 cores relative to 648 cores (the minimum number of cores that could be used to run such a large domain because of memory and time limitations). CONUS 100 m simulations were performed for 21 years (2000–2021) using 46 238 and 28 260 grid cells in the x and y dimensions, respectively. Each year was simulated using 1800 cores and took approximately 5 h to run.

Metabolic flexibility enables fungi to invade challenging host environments. In Candida albicans, a common cause of life-threatening infections in humans, an important contributor to flexibility is alternative oxidase (Aox) activity. Dramatic induction of this activity occurs under respiratory-stress conditions, which impair the classical electron transport chain (ETC). Here, we show that deletion of the inducible AOX2 gene cripples C. albicans virulence in mice by increasing immune recognition. To investigate further, we examined transcriptional regulation of AOX2 in molecular detail under host-relevant, ETC-inhibitory conditions. We found that multiple transcription factors, including Rtg1/Rtg3, Cwt1/Zcf11, and Zcf2, bind and regulate the AOX2 promoter, conferring thousand-fold levels of inducibility to AOX2 in response to distinct environmental stressors. Further dissection of this complex promoter revealed how integration of stimuli ranging from reactive species of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur to reduced copper availability is achieved at the transcriptional level to regulate AOX2 induction and enable pathogenesis.

Motor cortex (M1) has been thought to form a continuous somatotopic homunculus extending down the precentral gyrus from foot to face representations1,2, despite evidence for concentric functional zones3 and maps of complex actions4. Here, using precision functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods, we find that the classic homunculus is interrupted by regions with distinct connectivity, structure and function, alternating with effector-specific (foot, hand and mouth) areas. These inter-effector regions exhibit decreased cortical thickness and strong functional connectivity to each other, as well as to the cingulo-opercular network (CON), critical for action5 and physiological control6, arousal7, errors8 and pain9. This interdigitation of action control-linked and motor effector regions was verified in the three largest fMRI datasets. Macaque and pediatric (newborn, infant and child) precision fMRI suggested cross-species homologues and developmental precursors of the inter-effector system. A battery of motor and action fMRI tasks documented concentric effector somatotopies, separated by the CON-linked inter-effector regions. The inter-effectors lacked movement specificity and co-activated during action planning (coordination of hands and feet) and axial body movement (such as of the abdomen or eyebrows). These results, together with previous studies demonstrating stimulation-evoked complex actions4 and connectivity to internal organs10 such as the adrenal medulla, suggest that M1 is punctuated by a system for whole-body action planning, the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN). In M1, two parallel systems intertwine, forming an integrate-isolate pattern: effector-specific regions (foot, hand and mouth) for isolating fine motor control and the SCAN for integrating goals, physiology and body movement.

As a Principal Investigator leading a research team, creating a positive research culture for your team members is one of the best long-term investments you can make, for your research programme, for the sector and for society. A positive research environment is one where team members are empowered, recognised, have a clear career developmental pathway, can contribute to impactful and reproducible research and, ideally, propagate these effects. While these virtues can arise organically from a team built around kindness and integrity, they are also values that should be deliberately embedded within your lab. Here we provide advice on how to create a culture of integrity and a culture of belonging for your team members. We focus on thoughtful consideration of your key lab values, and the use of structure, language and your personal actions to make these values explicit. A holistic approach to integrating positive culture throughout every facet of your research team creates a system that can be self-sustaining in scientific integrity and more resilient to negative challenges. Starting on the pathway to self-improvement as a manager, recognising that this requires often uncomfortable self-reflection, provides both personal and professional reward.

Introduction Genetic testing is used across medical disciplines leading to unprecedented demand for genetic services. This has resulted in excessive waitlists and unsustainable pressure on the standard model of genetic healthcare. Alternative models are needed; e-health tools represent scalable and evidence-based solution. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the Genetics Navigator, an interactive patient-centred digital platform that supports the collection of medical and family history, provision of pregenetic and postgenetic counselling and return of genetic testing results across paediatric and adult settings.Methods and analysis We will evaluate the effectiveness of the Genetics Navigator combined with usual care by a genetics clinician (physician or counsellor) to usual care alone in a randomised controlled trial. One hundred and thirty participants (adults patients or parents of paediatric patients) eligible for genetic testing through standard of care will be recruited across Ontario genetics clinics. Participants randomised into the intervention arm will use the Genetics Navigator for pretest and post-test genetic counselling and results disclosure in conjunction with their clinician. Participants randomised into the control arm will receive usual care, that is, clinician-delivered pretest and post-test genetic counselling, and results disclosure. The primary outcome is participant distress 2 weeks after test results disclosure. Secondary outcomes include knowledge, decisional conflict, anxiety, empowerment, quality of life, satisfaction, acceptability, digital health literacy and health resource use. Quantitative data will be analysed using statistical hypothesis tests and regression models. A subset of participants will be interviewed to explore user experience; data will be analysed using interpretive description. A cost-effectiveness analysis will examine the incremental cost of the Navigator compared with usual care per unit reduction in distress or unit improvement in quality of life from public payer and societal perspectives.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by Clinical Trials Ontario. Results will be shared through stakeholder workshops, national and international conferences and peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number NCT06455384.

Abstract Background Ageing is the principal risk factor for retinal degenerative diseases, which are the commonest cause of blindness in the developed countries. These conditions include age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Regulatory T cells play a vital role in immunoregulation of the nervous system by limiting inflammation and tissue damage in health and disease. Because the retina was long-considered an immunoprivileged site, the precise contribution of regulatory T cells in retinal homeostasis and in age-related retinal diseases remains unknown. Methods Regulatory T cells were selectively depleted in both young (2–4 months) and aged (18–23 months) FoxP3-DTR mice. We evaluated neuroretinal degeneration, gliosis, subretinal space phagocyte infiltration, and retinal pigmented epithelium morphology through immunofluorescence analysis. Subsequently, aged Treg depleted animals underwent adoptive transfer of both young and aged regulatory T cells from wild-type mice, and the resulting impact on neurodegeneration was assessed. Statistical analyses employed included the U-Mann Whitney test, and for comparisons involving more than two groups, 1-way ANOVA analysis followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test. Results Our study shows that regulatory T cell elimination leads to retinal pigment epithelium cell dysmorphology and accumulation of phagocytes in the subretinal space of young and aged mice. However, only aged mice experience retinal neurodegeneration and gliosis. Surprisingly, adoptive transfer of young but not aged regulatory T cells reverse these changes. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate an essential role for regulatory T cells in maintaining age retinal homeostasis and preventing age-related neurodegeneration. This previously undescribed role of regulatory T cells in limiting retinal inflammation, RPE/choroid epithelium damage and subsequently photoreceptor loss with age, opens novel avenues to explore regulatory T cell neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties as potential therapeutic approaches for age-related retinal diseases.

Abstract Myelin regeneration (remyelination) is essential to prevent neurodegeneration in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, however, its efficiency declines with age. Regulatory T cells (Treg) recently emerged as critical players in tissue regeneration, including remyelination. However, the effect of ageing on Treg-mediated regenerative processes is poorly understood. Here, we show that expansion of aged Treg does not rescue age-associated remyelination impairment due to an intrinsically diminished capacity of aged Treg to promote oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination in male and female mice. This decline in regenerative Treg functions can be rescued by a young environment. We identified Melanoma Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (MCAM1) and Integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) as candidates of Treg-mediated oligodendrocyte differentiation that decrease with age. Our findings demonstrate that ageing limits the neuroregenerative capacity of Treg, likely limiting their remyelinating therapeutic potential in aged patients, and describe two mechanisms implicated in Treg-driven remyelination that may be targetable to overcome this limitation.

Fast patrol boats are designed for high performance in surveillance and warfare missions. In terms of hull technology development, the fast patrol boat commonly uses a V-type hull with hard chine. A duct vane is an innovation developed to improve the performance of patrol boats by combining the principles of wake-equalizing duct and hydrofoil. The objective of this paper is to investigate the hydrodynamic effect of the application of duct vane on the patrol boat hull design. The investigation was carried out using computational fluid dynamics that was validated using experiment data. The result of the duct vane application can improve the ship speed performance and reduce the total resistance by 40% at Fn 0.6. The results of this study also provide an overview of the influence of the duct vane on the lift force of a hard chine hull-type.

Social hierarchies exert a powerful influence on behavior, but the neurobiological mechanisms that detect and regulate hierarchical interactions are not well understood, especially at the level of neural circuits. Here, we use fiber photometry and chemogenetic tools to record and manipulate the activity of nucleus accumbens-projecting cells in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC-NAcSh) during tube test social competitions. We show that vmPFC-NAcSh projections signal learned hierarchical relationships, and are selectively recruited by subordinate mice when they initiate effortful social dominance behavior during encounters with a dominant competitor from an established hierarchy. After repeated bouts of social defeat stress, this circuit is preferentially activated during social interactions initiated by stress resilient individuals, and plays a necessary role in supporting social approach behavior in subordinated mice. These results define a necessary role for vmPFC-NAcSh cells in the adaptive regulation of social interaction behavior based on prior hierarchical interactions.

As a Principal Investigator leading a research team, creating a positive research culture for your team members is one of the best long-term investments you can make, for your research programme, for the sector and for society. A positive research environment is one where team members are empowered, recognised, have a clear career developmental pathway, can contribute to impactful and reproducible research and, ideally, propagate these effects. While these virtues can arise organically from a team built around kindness and integrity, they are also values that should be deliberately embedded within your lab. Here we provide advice on how to create a culture of integrity and a culture of belonging for your team members. We focus on thoughtful consideration of your key lab values, and the use of structure, language and your personal actions to make these values explicit. A holistic approach to integrating positive culture throughout every facet of your research team creates a system that can be self-sustaining in scientific integrity and more resilient to negative challenges. Starting on the pathway to self-improvement as a manager, recognising that this requires often uncomfortable self-reflection, provides both personal and professional reward.

Microbiome research has gained much attention in recent years as the importance of gut microbiota in regulating host health becomes increasingly evident. However, the impact of radiation on the microbiota in the murine bone marrow transplantation model is still poorly understood. In this paper, we present key findings from our study on how radiation, followed by bone marrow transplantation with or without T cell depletion, impacts the microbiota in the ileum and caecum. Our findings show that radiation has different effects on the microbiota of the two intestinal regions, with the caecum showing increased interindividual variation, suggesting an impaired ability of the host to regulate microbial symbionts, consistent with the Anna Karenina principle. Additionally, we observed changes in the ileum composition, including an increase in bacterial taxa that are important modulators of host health, such as Akkermansia and Faecalibaculum. In contrast, radiation in the caecum was associated with an increased abundance of several common commensal taxa in the gut, including Lachnospiraceae and Bacteroides. Finally, we found that high doses of radiation had more substantial effects on the caecal microbiota of the T-cell-depleted group than that of the non-T-cell-depleted group. Overall, our results contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between radiation and the gut microbiota in the context of bone marrow transplantation and highlight the importance of considering different intestinal regions when studying microbiome responses to environmental stressors.

This letter introduces the first issue of volume 18. It addresses the most recent findings on student perceptions of higher education in the United States, based on a two-year study funded by the Gates Foundation.

Recently, OTULIN haploinsufficiency was linked to enhanced susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infections accompanied by local necrosis and systemic inflammation. The pathogenesis observed in haploinsufficient patients differs from the hyperinflammation seen in classical OTULIN-related autoinflammatory syndrome (ORAS) patients and is characterized by increased susceptibility of dermal fibroblasts to S. aureus alpha toxin-inflicted cytotoxic damage. Immunological abnormalities were not observed in OTULIN haploinsufficient patients, suggesting a non-hematopoietic basis. In this research report, we investigated an Otulin+/− mouse model after in vivo provocation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to explore the potential role of hematopoietic-driven inflammation in OTULIN haploinsufficiency. We observed a hyperinflammatory signature in LPS-provoked Otulin+/− mice, which was driven by CD64+ monocytes and macrophages. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) of Otulin+/− mice demonstrated higher proinflammatory cytokine secretion after in vitro stimulation with LPS or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)). Our experiments in full and mixed bone marrow chimeric mice suggest that, in contrast to humans, the observed inflammation was mainly driven by the hematopoietic compartment with cell-extrinsic effects likely contributing to inflammatory outcomes. Using an OTULIN haploinsufficient mouse model, we validated the role of OTULIN in the regulation of environmentally directed inflammation.

The most extensive use of coal in Indonesia is for electricity generation. Due to increasing concerns about climate change and the need to reduce emissions caused by burning coal, biomass-based fuels are becoming more competitive. The biomass carbonization process, or torrefaction, to produce solid fuel has been introduced elsewhere. This research uses sub-bituminous coal and rice husks, considering Indonesia’s large potential for both. The primary objective of this research was to determine the optimal temperature and residence time for the rice husk torrefaction process, intending to reduce the alkali oxide content that led to ash deposition. This was necessary due to the limited information available, particularly for local rice husks from Indonesia. We carried out the rice husk torrefaction at 300, 350, and 400°C temperatures for 30, 60, and 90 minutes. The results show that a temperature of 350°C and a residence time of 60 minutes were the optimal conditions. In these conditions, the potassium and sodium oxides decreased, and the calorific value increased. To get a coal-rice husk blending with a calorific value greater than 5,000 cal/g (ADB), the proportion of coal to rice husk should be 90 and 10%, respectively. The rice husk torrefaction process did not have much influence on the occurrence of ash deposition. However, the torrefaction process increased the calorific value, reduced transportation costs due to the lower moisture content, and improved grindability so that it was easy to blend with coal.

Palm kernel shells (PKS) were washed with water and glacial acetic acid (CH3COOH) gradually to prepare them for co-firing with coal. They were then torrefied at 450ºC for one hour. Washing was done to reduce the concentration of ash and alkaline oxides, which would reduce the chance of slagging and fouling. The research was conducted considering that information about washing the PKS with acetic acid and then having them torrefied is very limited and unclear. The results showed that washed and torrefied PKS had better characteristics than those of raw PKS or PKS washed with water. PKS that is washed with acid, torrefied and then blended with coal has low slagging and medium fouling tendencies. However, based on ash fusion temperature, the inclination towards slagging and fouling is high under reducing conditions and medium under oxidation conditions.

This letter introduces issue 2 of volume 17. It discusses institutional accreditation, academic program assessment, the rigor necessary to have confidence in our curricular decisions, and how the scholarship of teaching and learning fits into this picture.

Abstract The design of the gas distribution for small-demand power plants located on remote islands is logistically challenging. The use of small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels can be an option for these logistic problems. This paper aims to conduct a techno-economic analysis of using small-scale LNG vessels for gas distribution to the power plants that are spread across different islands. Route optimisation has been conducted using the capacitated vehicle routing problem method. The ship’s principal dimensions were determined using the aspect ratio from a linear regression of existing small-scale LNG vessels. As a case study, the gas demands for a gas power plant in eastern Indonesia were analysed into four distribution clusters. The results of the techno-economic analysis showed that the four distribution clusters have different characteristics regarding the LNG requirements, location characteristics and ship specifications. The capacity of small-scale LNG vessels feasible in terms of technical aspects varies from 2500, 5000, to > 10,000 m3 with variations in the ship speed depending on the location of the power plants. The amount of cargo requested and the shipping distance was affected to the cost of LNG transportation. The economic assessment proposes that the feasible investment by considering small-scale LNG cargo distribution, from the case study shows that with a ship capacity of 5000 m3 feasible margin rate is ≥ 3 USD/metric million British thermal units with an internal rate of return of 10% and estimated payback period is less than 15 years.

O artigo tem como objetivo analisar como conhecimentos provenientes de epistemologias antirracistas têm sido colocados em circulação nos currículos por professores negros. A discussão teórica pauta-se nos estudos étnico-raciais, destacando-se a crítica à epistemologia moderna/ocidental/colonial e a potência das epistemologias antirracistas. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com professores negros militantes que atuam na educação básica. Com base na análise qualitativa efetuada, pode-se concluir que vários conhecimentos provenientes das epistemologias antirracistas estão nos currículos, com destaque para o questionamento do racismo estrutural, da forma como os alunos negros têm sido tratados nas escolas e das práticas racistas ainda existentes e com ênfase na defesa da cultura e identidade negra.

Abstract As Arctic sea ice and its overlying snow cover thin, more light penetrates into the ice and upper ocean, shifting the phenology of algal growth within the bottom of sea ice, with cascading impacts on higher trophic levels of the Arctic marine ecosystem. While field data or autonomous observatories provide direct measurements of the coupled sea ice‐algal system, they are limited in space and time. Satellite observations of key sea ice variables that control the amount of light penetrating through sea ice offer the possibility to map the under‐ice light field across the entire Arctic basin. This study provides the first satellite‐based estimates of potential sea ice‐associated algal bloom onset dates since the launch of CryoSat‐2 and explores how a changing snowpack may have shifted bloom onset timings over the last four decades.

Objectives Female athletes engaging in high-impact sports have a higher prevalence of experiencing stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, the prevalence of sport-specific SUI and associated risk factors in female rugby players is relatively unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence of general and rugby-related SUI and identify associated risk factors and inciting events in female rugby players.Methods Observational, cross-sectional study of 396 female rugby players (age 28±8 years, mass 80±18 kg, height 1.90±0.19 m, playing years 7±6 years) participating in rugby across UK and Ireland completed an electronic questionnaire regardless of SUI status.Results 63 to 88% of players had SUI, and 43% had rugby-related SUI. There was an association with players reporting a change in incontinence status due to playing rugby (p

Abstract Metabolic flexibility enables fungi to invade challenging host environments. In Candida albicans, a common cause of life-threatening infections in humans, an important contributor to flexibility is alternative oxidase (Aox) activity. Dramatic induction of this activity occurs under respiratory-stress conditions, which impair the classical electron transport chain (ETC). Here, we show that deletion of the inducible AOX2 gene cripples C. albicans virulence in mice by increasing immune recognition. To investigate further, we examined transcriptional regulation of AOX2 in molecular detail under host-relevant, ETC-inhibitory conditions. We found that multiple transcription factors, including Rtg1/Rtg3, Cwt1/Zcf11, and Zcf2, bind and regulate the AOX2 promoter, conferring thousand-fold levels of inducibility to AOX2 in response to distinct environmental stressors. Further dissection of this complex promoter revealed how integration of stimuli ranging from reactive species of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur to reduced copper availability is achieved at the transcriptional level to regulate AOX2 induction and enable pathogenesis.

The development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier ships is increasing rapidly along with the demand for alternative energy sources. This study aims to analyze the performance of an LNG-fueled propulsion system for a small-scale LNG carrier ship with a combination gas-electric steam turbine system (COGES). The performance of the propulsion system is analyzed based on the power output generation and the environmental effect of the system. The total power output was evaluated using thermodynamic analysis and the environmental impact was measured by carbon emissions using the life-cycle assessment approach. The analysis results show the COGES propulsion system potentially generates total power of 7600 kW at peak load. The desired ship operational speed of 12 knots can be achieved at 24% load of the total power output. The COGES propulsion system also indicates a low emission than other systems with a carbon emission is 0.149 kgCO2/kWh.

New taxonomic, biological and faunistic data are presented for some species of sawflies occurring in southern Europe and North Africa. Pamphilius mediterraneus sp. nov. is described from Italy (Sicily). It belongs to the alternans sub-group of the alternans species group. Pristiphora omalos sp. nov. is described from Greece (Crete). It belongs to the depressa species group. New junior synonyms are Calameuta tazzekae Lacourt, 1991 of Calameuta gaullei (Konow, 1896), and Emphytus leucostomus Costa, 1890 of Allantus cingulatus (Scopoli, 1763). Periclista rufiventris Zombori, 1979 is moved from the subgenus Periclista to the subgenus Neocharactus. Ametastegia (Protemphytus) persica Khayrandish, Talebi & Blank, 2015 is recorded for the first time in Europe, from Italy (Sicily), and a key to West Palaearctic Protemphytus species provided. Allantus enslini (Forsius, 1918) is more widespread in southern Europe than previously recorded. An identification key distinguishes it from its closer West Palaearctic relatives. New hostplant records are for Halidamia affinis (Fallén, 1807) (Rubia peregrina), Janus compressus (Fabricius, 1793) (Sorbus torminalis), and Macrophya albicincta (Schrank, 1776) (Centranthus ruber). New distribution records are given for a few other species.