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Urban ecological communities are shaped by an array of environmental and physical factors that include climate, biogeography, species interactions, dispersal, and ecological filters at the habitat and landscape scales. In addition, many social dynamics, decision-making processes, and other social characteristics, such as development, policy, government actions, as well as socioeconomic status of residents – the so-called ‘luxury’ effect – may also play strong roles in shaping which species occur within the urban context. This interaction between ecological and social drivers may impact species richness and may also influence functional traits and functional diversity, with important implications for ecosystem services provided within urban spaces. Urban agroecosystems provide food and other well-being benefits to urban residents, and are valuable green spaces in the city that provide refuges for biodiversity. Despite this fact, one of the biggest risks to gardens is insecure land tenure. While plant communities within gardens may be shaped by gardener demographics, food cultures, and ecological processes, little is known about how factors such as luxury and land tenure security may impact plant diversity, plant functional traits, and functional diversity, as well as species and trait composition. In this study, we ask how garden physical features, luxury, and land tenure security influence plant species richness, functional diversity, and species and trait composition within gardens in the California central coast. We surveyed vegetation, assessed plant traits related to growth form, plant defense, and floral characteristics, and collected information on multiple factors associated with land tenure and luxury. We found that land tenure secure gardens had higher plant and crop richness. Variables associated with garden luxury boosted ornamental plant richness, flower abundance and height, lowered crop richness, and strongly impacted plant species composition. Garden plot size negatively correlated with plant species and functional richness and relative abundance of trees. Weed species richness was not impacted by any social or physical feature examined. Thus overall, in community gardens, cultivated plants, and their traits, are strongly shaped by the socioeconomic factors of land tenure security and luxury as well as the spatial distribution and size of garden plots, with important implications for both conservation and ecosystem services provided by garden habitats within cities.

Cities are sometimes characterized as homogenous with species assemblages composed of abundant, generalist species having similar ecological functions. Under this assumption, rare species, or species observed infrequently, would have especially high conservation value in cities for their potential to increase functional diversity. Management to increase the number of rare species in cities could be an important conservation strategy in a rapidly urbanizing world. However, most studies of species rarity define rarity in relatively pristine environments where human management and disturbance is minimized. We know little about what species are rare, how many species are rare, and what management practices promote rare species in urban environments. Here, we identified which plants and species of birds and bees that control pests and pollinate crops are rare in urban gardens and assessed how social, biophysical factors, and cross-taxonomic comparisons influence rare species richness. We found overwhelming numbers of rare species, with more than 50% of plants observed classified as rare. Our results highlight the importance of women, older individuals, and gardeners who live closer to garden sites in increasing the number of rare plants within urban areas. Fewer rare plants were found in older gardens and gardens with more bare soil. There were more rare bird species in larger gardens and more rare bee species for which canopy cover was higher. We also found that in some cases, rarity begets rarity, with positive correlations found between the number of rare plants and bee species and between bee and bird species. Overall, our results suggest that urban gardens include a high number of species existing at low frequency and that social and biophysical factors promoting rare, planned biodiversity can cascade down to promote rare, associated biodiversity.

Gardening has the potential to improve health and wellbeing, especially during crises. Using an international survey of gardeners (n = 3743), this study aimed to understand everyday gardening experiences, perspectives and attitudes during early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Our qualitative reflexive thematic and sentiment analyses show that during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, gardening seemed to create a safe and positive space where people could socially connect, learn and be creative. Participants had more time to garden during the pandemic, which led to enhanced connections with family members and neighbours, and the ability to spend time in a safe outdoor environment. More time gardening allowed for innovative and new gardening practices that provided enjoyment for many participants. However, our research also highlighted barriers to gardening (e.g. lack of access to garden spaces and materials). Our results illustrate the multiple benefits of gardening apparent during COVID-19 through a lens of the social-ecological model of health.

The synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) that contain site-specifically substituted backbone heteroatoms is one of the essential goals that must be achieved in order to control the electronic properties of these next generation organic materials. We have exploited our recently reported solid-state topochemical polymerization/cyclization-aromatization strategy to convert the simple 1,4-bis(3-pyridyl)butadiynes 3a,b into the fjord-edge nitrogen-doped graphene nanoribbon structures 1a,b (fjord-edge N2[8]GNRs). Structural assignments are confirmed by CP/MAS 13C NMR, Raman, and XPS spectroscopy. The fjord-edge N2[8]GNRs 1a,b are promising precursors for the novel backbone nitrogen-substituted N2[8]AGNRs 2a,b. Geometry and band calculations on N2[8]AGNR 2c indicate that this class of nanoribbons should have unusual bonding topology and metallicity.

The native extracellular matrix (ECM) contains a host of matricellular proteins and bioactive factors that regulate cell behavior, and many ECM components have been leveraged to guide cell fate. However, the large size and chemical characteristics of these constituents complicate their incorporation into biomaterials without interfering with material properties, motivating the need for alternative approaches to regulate cellular responses. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can promote osseous regeneration in vivo directly or indirectly through multiple means including (1) secretion of proangiogenic and mitogenic factors to initiate formation of a vascular template and recruit host cells into the tissue site or (2) direct differentiation into osteoblasts. As MSC behavior is influenced by the properties of engineered hydrogels, we hypothesized that the biochemical and biophysical properties of alginate could be manipulated to promote the dual contributions of encapsulated MSCs toward bone formation. We functionalized alginate with QK peptide to enhance proangiogenic factor secretion and RGD to promote adhesion, while biomechanical-mediated osteogenic cues were controlled by modulating viscoelastic properties of the alginate substrate. A 1:1 ratio of QK:RGD resulted in the highest levels of both proangiogenic factor secretion and mineralization in vitro. Viscoelastic alginate outperformed purely elastic gels in both categories, and this effect was enhanced by stiffness up to 20 kPa. Furthermore, viscoelastic constructs promoted vessel infiltration and bone regeneration in a rat calvarial defect over 12 weeks. These data suggest that modulating viscoelastic properties of biomaterials, in conjunction with dual peptide functionalization, can simultaneously enhance multiple aspects of MSC regenerative potential and improve neovascularization of engineered tissues.

Purpose:To demonstrate that rifabutin-related corneal deposits are localized to the deep stroma using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal microscopy. Observations:A 55-year-old male with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and disseminated mycobacterium avium complex on rifabutin treatment for 3 years presented with bilateral corneal deposits. Confocal microscopy and anterior segment OCT confirm that rifabutin-related corneal deposits are located in the deep stroma, rather than in the endothelium. Conclusions:And Importance: Rifabutin deposits localize to the deep corneal stroma, and can be seen with both confocal microscopy and anterior segment OCT. Anterior segment OCT is a widely available and easily used diagnostic tool, and can provide utility in the diagnosis of corneal deposits.

Urban gardens are vital green spaces, providing food for residents and space for engaged citizenry and community development. In California, climate change conditions (heat and drought) are becoming more extreme, threatening the resilience of urban gardens. Water use restrictions limit the timing and amount of water that gardeners can access, exacerbating these climate challenges for urban food production. Together with volunteer gardeners, we examined how ambient temperature, water use, vegetation, ground cover, and soil management affect rates of soil moisture gain and loss in urban gardens for a six-week period in the summer of 2017, during the hottest part of the growing season. We found that plot-level management of soils is essential for creating urban garden plots that maintain stable levels of water within garden soils. Although plots with better soil quality (i.e. water holding capacity) experienced slower rates of soil moisture gain after a watering event, they also experienced slower rates of soil moisture loss after the event, leading to soils with more stable, less fluctuating moisture profiles over time. This may benefit gardeners because under extreme climates (such as heat and drought) and water use restrictions, maintaining more stable soils for their plants means that the soils will retain water over a longer period after each watering event. Overall, such results highlight that better soil management that improves soil quality measures such as water holding capacity are potential solutions for maintaining soil moisture and reducing water use under changing climate conditions.

An expert panel was convened in September 2019 by The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) to develop a definition for fermented foods and to describe their role in the human diet. Although these foods have been consumed for thousands of years, they are receiving increased attention among biologists, nutritionists, technologists, clinicians and consumers. Despite this interest, inconsistencies related to the use of the term 'fermented' led the panel to define fermented foods and beverages as "foods made through desired microbial growth and enzymatic conversions of food components". This definition, encompassing the many varieties of fermented foods, is intended to clarify what is (and is not) a fermented food. The distinction between fermented foods and probiotics is further clarified. The panel also addressed the current state of knowledge on the safety, risks and health benefits, including an assessment of the nutritional attributes and a mechanistic rationale for how fermented foods could improve gastrointestinal and general health. The latest advancements in our understanding of the microbial ecology and systems biology of these foods were discussed. Finally, the panel reviewed how fermented foods are regulated and discussed efforts to include them as a separate category in national dietary guidelines.

Targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory osteoarthritis treatments have the potential to significantly decrease undesirable systemic side effects and reduce required therapeutic dosage. Here we present a targeted, non-invasive drug delivery system to decrease inflammation in an osteoarthritis model. Hollow thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) nanoparticles have been synthesized via degradation of a N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (BAC) cross-linked core out of a non-degradable pNIPAM shell. Sulfated 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) was copolymerized in the shell to increase passive loading of an anti-inflammatory mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2)-inhibiting cell-penetrating peptide (KAFAK). The drug-loaded hollow nanoparticles were effective at delivering a therapeutically active dose of KAFAK to bovine cartilage explants, suppressing pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression after interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) stimulation. This thermosensitive hollow nanoparticle system provides an excellent platform for the delivery of peptide therapeutics into highly proteolytic environments such as osteoarthritis.

Characterized by pain, cartilage degradation, and inflammation, osteoarthritis is often treated with anti-inflammatory therapies that provide short-term relief but can have adverse side effects; intra-articular drug delivery systems with controlled release of anti-inflammatory peptides using degradable poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) nanoparticles could prolong relief and minimize these side effects. Nanoparticles provide a biocompatible drug carrier that can protect encapsulated therapeutics from enzymatic degradation and increase payload delivery upon encountering a degradation stimulus. Here we demonstrate passive targeting of inflamed cartilage ex vivo by uptake of PEGylated pNIPAM nanoparticles with degradable disulfide crosslinks (abbreviated as NGPEGSS) into chondrocytes and subsequent intracellular release of an anti-inflammatory peptide KAFAKLAARLYRKALARQLGVAA (KAFAK). The KAFAK-loaded NGPEGSS treatment reduced ex vivo inflammation to a greater extent compared to its non-degradable counterparts. This study highlights a nanoparticle system that delivers therapeutics intracellularly with improved efficacy by triggered degradation and suppresses inflammation in multiple cell types within an inflamed joint.

BackgroundTimely thrombolytic therapy can improve stroke outcomes. Nevertheless, the ability of US hospitals to meet guidelines for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) remains suboptimal. What is unclear is whether hospitals accurately perceive their rate of tPA "door-to-needle" (DTN) time within 60 minutes and how DTN rates compare across different hospitals.Methods and resultsDTN performance was defined by the percentage of treated patients who received tPA within 60 minutes of arrival. Telephone surveys were obtained from staff at 141 Get With The Guidelines hospitals, representing top, middle, and low DTN performance. Less than one-third (29.1%) of staff accurately identified their DTN performance. Among middle- and low-performing hospitals (n=92), 56 sites (60.9%) overestimated their performance; 42% of middle performers and 85% of low performers overestimated their performance. Sites that overestimated tended to have lower annual volumes of tPA administration (median 8.4 patients [25th to 75th percentile 5.9 to 11.8] versus 10.2 patients [25th to 75th percentile 8.2 to 17.3], P=0.047), smaller percentages of eligible patients receiving tPA (84.7% versus 89.8%, P=0.008), and smaller percentages of DTN ≤60 minutes among treated patients (10.6% versus 16.6%, P=0.002).ConclusionsHospitals often overestimate their ability to deliver timely tPA to treated patients. Our findings indicate the need to routinely provide comparative provider performance rates as a key step to improving the quality of acute stroke care.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are mediators in the development of many inflammatory diseases. To demonstrate that macrophages take up and respond to thermosensitive nanoparticle drug carriers, we synthesized PEGylated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate) particles cross-linked with degradable disulfide (N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine) (NGPEGSS). An anti-inflammatory peptide (KAFAK) was loaded and released from the thermosensitive nanoparticles and shown to suppress levels of TNF-α and IL-6 production in macrophages. Cellular uptake of fluorescent, thermosensitive, and degradable nanoparticles and therapeutic efficacy of free KAFAK peptide compared to that of KAFAK loaded in PEGylated degradable thermosensitive nanoparticles were examined. The data suggests that the degradable, thermosensitive nanoparticles loaded with KAFAK may be an effective tool to treat inflammatory diseases.

No instruments are currently available to help health systems identify target areas for reducing door-to-needle times for the administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator to eligible patients with ischemic stroke. A 67-item Likert-scale survey was administered by telephone to stroke personnel at 252 U.S. hospitals participating in the "Get With The Guidelines-Stroke" quality improvement program. Factor analysis was used to refine the instrument to a four-factor 29-item instrument that can be used by hospitals to assess their readiness to administer intravenous tissue plasminogen activator within 60 minutes of patient hospital arrival.

BACKGROUND#ENTITYSTARTX02014;: Emergency medical services (EMS) hospital prenotification of an incoming stroke patient is guideline recommended as a means of increasing the timeliness with which stroke patients are evaluated and treated. Still, data are limited with regard to national use of, variations in, and temporal trends in EMS prenotification and associated predictors of its use. METHODS AND RESULTS#ENTITYSTARTX02014;: We examined 371 988 patients with acute ischemic stroke who were transported by EMS and enrolled in 1585 hospitals participating in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke from April 1, 2003, through March 31, 2011. Prenotification occurred in 249 197 EMS-transported patients (67.0%) and varied widely by hospital (range, 0% to 100%). Substantial variations by geographic regions and by state, ranging from 19.7% in Washington, DC, to 93.4% in Montana, also were noted. Patient factors associated with lower use of prenotification included older age, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease. Prenotification was less likely for black patients than for white patients (adjusted odds ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.97, P