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This work addresses the multi‐objective design of water, energy and food supply systems in isolated rural communities using local resources. The approach used considers objective functions based on life cycle analysis such as water and carbon footprint, as well as economic performance considering the application and integration of normalized metrics to address the water‐energy‐environment‐food nexus. The results show that it is possible to build robust and accessible metrics for the analysis of problems with various design objective functions in decision‐making environments. The optimization problem considers decision variables associated with the sizing of units such as photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, thermal and electrical energy storage, wood‐fired boilers and the integration of food production systems involving aquaculture and local corn production. Water management is associated with domestic activities and crop irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model is presented where a GeV axion‐like‐particle (ALP) is predicted in a large portion of the parameter space due to the presence of explicit Peccei–Quinn (PQ) symmetry‐breaking terms in an exotic leptonic sector. The latter provides a solution to the muon g−2$g-2$ anomaly, within the framework of the Linear Seesaw neutrino mechanism. The spectrum is extended by a complex scalar singlet only transforming under the PQ symmetry, which generates the ALP. Its couplings with fermions can continuously span over many orders of magnitude, which constitutes a specific feature of this model in contrast to generic ultraviolet constructions. Interestingly, these couplings are suppressed by the ALP characteristic scale that can be as low as the TeV scale, which represents a novel feature of the model and opens up to several phenomenological consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FEBS Open Bio remains dedicated to serving the scientific community by ensuring rapid publication of rigorous science and pioneering initiatives to support researchers. In this editorial, we reflect on a year of achievements, and look forward to the new developments planned for 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan and collagen are two valuable biopolymers for the synthesis and design of biomaterials. In this work, we evaluate the effect of the concentration of chitosan on the physicochemical and biological properties of polyurethane‐crosslinked collagen hydrogels. Chitosan was added with a proportion ranging from 0 to 40 wt%. Depending on the aminoglycoside content, semi‐interpenetrating polymeric networks (semi‐IPNs) or completely IPNs were generated; this is attributed to the occlusion of the chitosan granules in the reticulated fibrillar matrix. The presence of chitosan in these hydrogels provides antibacterial capacity against pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, which is corroborated by inhibition halo experiments. Hydrogels with 40 wt% of chitosan only showed improvement in the gelation time and mechanical performance, indicating a dependent relation of these properties with respect to the aminopolysaccharide content. Hydrogels with 10 wt% of chitosan showed the best biomedical performance. They also have the highest reticulation, swelling capability and chemical stability against degradation events such as hydrolysis and proteolysis. Further, they have the best biocompatibility for human monocytes, and they stimulate the secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha. Also, these hydrogels showed a controlled release of ketorolac at pH 7 and 37 °C. The results of these in vitro biological tests demonstrate the potential application of novel biopolymer‐based hydrogels in chronic wound healing due to their antibacterial capacity and modulation of the biological response of specialized cells in dermal repair treatments, as well as for the design of smart materials for the controlled release of drugs. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Mate limitation in small populations can reduce reproductive fitness, hinder population growth, and increase extinction risk. Mate limitation is exacerbated in self‐incompatible (SI) taxa, where shared S‐alleles further restrict mating. Theory suggests genetic drift as a predictor of mate limitation and the breakdown of SI systems. We tested this prediction by evaluating mate availability and S‐allele number in populations of a tetraploid herb with gametophytic SI (GSI) spanning a range of effective population sizes. We performed controlled crosses in 13 populations of Argentina anserina to quantify mate availability and S‐allele diversity, which were compared with simulations of tetraploid populations with GSI. We further evaluated mechanisms at the pollen–pistil interface contributing to outcross failure and leakiness in self‐recognition. Mate availability declined in small populations, and closely fit tetraploid GSI population genetic models where maternal plants receive pollen with diverse S‐alleles generated through tetrasomic inheritance. The failure to arrest self‐pollen in the style was common in some populations. Specifically, leaky SI was more common in small populations with low mate availability, where it explained higher seed production in natural populations. The restriction of leaky self‐recognition to the smallest populations is consistent with mate limitation as a pressure driving the breakdown of self‐incompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabidiol (CBD) is garnering increasing interest due to its significant biological activity. This natural compound is one of the major cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. In this work, we describe the encapsulation of CBD in solid and hollow pH‐sensitive poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (solid@p4VP and hollow@p4VP) nanoparticles, and temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (solid@pNIPAM and hollow@pNIPAM) nanoparticles for transport and release CBD in a controlled manner. The CBD loading into these smart polymeric systems was effective and their release profiles, solubility and resistance to stomach and intestinal conditions were evaluated, showing satisfactory properties and improved bioavailability with respect to free CBD. Finally, the A549 human lung cancer cell line was used as lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cellular model to carry out preliminary assays of the in vitro activity of the vehiculized CBD. For all these studies, synthetic CBD was employed, for which a new efficient and scalable synthesis of cannabinoids has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial communities in aquaculture systems are primarily affected by changes in water quality, fish metabolism, feeding strategies and fish disease prevention treatments. Monitoring changes in aquatic microbiomes related to aquaculture activities is necessary to improve management strategies and reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture water discharge. This study assessed the effects of activities within two fish farms on water microbiome composition by analysing the water entering and leaving both systems. Additionally, pathogenic bacterial species associated with common fish diseases were identified. The abundance, diversity and identity of microorganisms were evaluated using 16S rRNA hypervariable gene region amplicon sequencing. Proteobacteria (38.2%) and Bacteroidetes (31.3%) were the most abundant phyla in all water samples. Changes in microbiome composition after passage through the fish tanks were observed in several taxa, such as Nitrospirae, Chloroflexi, Deferribacteres and Cyanobacteria. Flavobacterium sp. and Pseudomonas sp. were the predominant potential pathogens and heterotrophic bacteria detected in both farms. Several chemolithotrophic bacteria and archaea were found in the natural reservoir used for aquaculture activities, while water microbiomes in the aquaculture systems were generally dominated by heterotrophic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution models (SDMs) have become increasingly popular for making ecological inferences, as well as predictions to inform conservation and management. In predictive modeling, practitioners often use correlative SDMs that only evaluate a single spatial scale and do not account for differences in life stages. These modeling decisions may limit the performance of SDMs beyond the study region or sampling period. Given the increasing desire to develop transferable SDMs, a robust framework is necessary that can account for known challenges of model transferability. Here, we propose a comparative framework to develop transferable SDMs, which was tested using satellite telemetry data from green turtles (CheloniaChelonia mydas). This framework is characterized by a set of steps comparing among different models based on (1) model algorithm (e.g., generalized linear model vs. Gaussian process regression) and formulation (e.g., correlative model vs. hybrid model), (2) spatial scale, and (3) accounting for life stage. SDMs were fitted as resource selection functions and trained on data from the Gulf of Mexico with bathymetric depth, net primary productivity, and sea surface temperature as covariates. Independent validation datasets from Brazil and Qatar were used to assess model transferability. A correlative SDM using a hierarchical Gaussian process regression (HGPR) algorithm exhibited greater transferability than a hybrid SDM using HGPR, as well as correlative and hybrid forms of hierarchical generalized linear models. Additionally, models that evaluated habitat selection at the finest spatial scale and that did not account for life stage proved to be the most transferable in this study. The comparative framework presented here may be applied to a variety of species, ecological datasets (e.g., presence‐only, presence‐absence, mark‐recapture), and modeling frameworks (e.g., resource selection functions, step selection functions, occupancy models) to generate transferable predictions of species–habitat associations. We expect that SDM predictions resulting from this comparative framework will be more informative management tools and may be used to more accurately assess climate change impacts on a wide array of taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compile and synthesise the evidence regarding the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (AE) compared with other treatments to reduce pain and disability of individuals with orofacial pain (OFP). Methods: Electronic searches were conducted on five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus). Randomised controlled trials (RCT) or controlled trials including adults of both sexes with painful OFP diagnoses were targeted. The intervention of interest was AE (e.g., walking, cycling, running, among others), compared to any other conservative and non‐conservative therapy. The primary outcome was pain intensity. The risk of bias (RoB) was determined using a compiled set of items and the Cochrane RoB‐2 tools. The overall certainty of the evidence was evaluated with the GRADE approach. Results: Out of 4.669 records screened, four manuscripts were included. However, three of them used the same population but presented different outcomes. These studies included subjects with headache associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and general TMD. Both studies used aerobic exercise (AE) as the intervention of interest. Manual therapy (MT) plus exercise (Ex) (strengthening exercise (Str ex) or general exercises) were used as a comparison group. The combined treatment, including a multimodal therapy (AE + MT + Str ex), was superior to MT + Ex (MD: −8.65 points [95% CI −13.73, −3.57]) on pain intensity (orofacial pain [OFP] and headache intensity) at the end of the treatment and also after 12‐week follow‐up (MD: −9.43 points [95% CI −14.97, −3.89]). Also, the combination of three treatment modalities (AE + MT + Ex) was better on quality of life than AE alone (MD: −14.60 points [95% CI −16.74, −12.46]) and MT + Ex (MD: −12.30 point [95% CI −14.50, −10.10]) at the end of the treatment. Conclusions: Aerobic exercise plus MT and general exercises achieved the greatest positive effects on pain and other outcomes in the short/medium term in patients with OFP. However, the scientific evidence supporting the isolated effects of AE for OFP is limited, indicating the need for more studies. Further studies are also needed to elaborate guidelines when using AE for individuals with OFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected to assess the soil structure health in support of water use and management in a subtropical watershed, which is composed of shallow Entisols, near to Canguçu, RS state—Brazil. Various physico‐hydraulic properties related to soil structure, such as bulk density, total, micro and macroporosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, soil water retention curve (SWRC), and the ranges of plant available water (PAWC) and drainable porosity (DP) were measured to be analyzed. The hydraulic‐energy indices of soil aeration and water retention were determined by integrating the areas under SWRC. Combining these properties with the contents of sand and clay, a unique blanket soil physico‐hydraulic health index (BSPHI) was formulated and applied to investigate the impact of land use and management on the soils of the Ellert Creek Watershed (ECW), thereby supporting soil physical health analysis and, consequently, the analysis of water and human health. The favorable outcomes found in the ECW soils under annual crops indicated good root aeration in the surface layer due to the balance between DP and PAWC. The BSPHI results showed that only about 19% of the areas exhibited unhealthy physical health. The soil structure in pasture areas of ECW was not significantly impacted by the extensive cattle grazing, whereas lands under native forest served as a control for the natural soil quality status. The BSPHI successfully captured small changes in soil structure, regardless of land use and management, highlighting its potential as a promising tool for evaluating soil health by assessing the soil physical quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uninterrupted supply of raw materials is essential to implement low‐carbon technologies. Therefore, the sustainable extraction of these materials is crucial. One of its important aspects is the analysis of the interaction between the actors as well as the actions undertaken by them. This study explores the characteristics of the network of links between social actors and the supporting and inhibitory actions related to sustainable development that the mining industry and its possible implications with collaboration and conflict between actors. Our methodological approach consisted in building two bipartite networks based on actor‐action interaction, identified thanks to the literature review of sustainability initiatives of mining companies. Applying network analysis, we examine the structural characteristics of the networks and the strength of links between social actors. The results highlighted that "Government," "Local society," and "Indigenous peoples" have a critical position in the network of "Supporting" and "Inhibitory" actions. They are those who could articulate with other social actors to create collaborative processes in the implementation of actions that contribute to sustainable development by the mining industry. However, from the analysis of the structure of the network of "Inhibitory" actions, these three actors are the ones who could be relevant in the dynamics of the development of conflicts with the mining industry. This study presents, from the dual perspective ("Supporting" and "Inhibitory" actions), the characteristics of the systems of relationships between social actors and their possible implications for the design, as well as implementation of sustainable strategies in the mining sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular supply chain management (CSCM) is the revolutionary integration of circular principles into supply chain management and the supply chain environment to achieve zero waste and outperform traditional supply chain sustainability models in advancing supply chain circularity. This study examines CSCM and the corresponding literature to highlight key research themes and trends. An advanced iteration of the Systematic Science Mapping analysis methodology has been designed and implemented with a Named Entity Recognition approach to extract relevant information from scientific articles. Key themes are revealed such as essential capabilities for circularity in the supply chain, circular business models, sustainable supplier selection and blockchain technology's role. The article gives insights into current research and identifies emerging trends in CSCM. This exploration aims to provide a nuanced understanding of CSCM's transformative power and shed light on its practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of hydrido rhodium(I) complexes of the type [HRh(CO)3L] and [HRh(CO)2L2] from [Rh(acac)(CO)2]/L (L: bulky monophosphite ligand) requires a ligand‐to‐rhodium ratio [L]/[Rh] > 10 to prevent the possible partial generation of [Rh6(CO)16] under typical hydroformylation conditions. Significant fractions of formed [Rh6(CO)16] at lower ratios of [L]/[Rh] can be reactivated towards the hydrido complexes after the addition of the monophosphite ligand in the presence of synthesis gas. It was also found that [Rh6(CO)16] can be transformed by treatment with an excess of monophosphite ligand under inert gas to form a mononuclear complex of the type [L`Rh(CO)L] with an ortho‐metallated ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May and June 2024, a die‐off of Mexican mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) occurred in southern Mexico. This commentary documents the event, attributing it to extreme heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and habitat impoverishment. Despite their reported resilience to habitat disturbances, mantled howler monkey mortality rate in some areas reached 31%. Key evidence points to heatstroke as the primary cause of death, exacerbated by limited hydration and reduced dietary diversity in disturbed habitats. Immediate responses included community‐led rescues (e.g., hydrating the monkeys), coordination of rescue activities by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) (e.g., managing donations), involvement of scientists (e.g., monitoring of primate populations), and assistance from government officials (e.g., providing legal support for animal management). This event underscores the urgency of developing action plans to prevent and attend future crises. Among other actions, we highlight (i) establishing primate care infrastructure with medical and rehabilitation centers; (ii) developing protocols and training programs to ensure rapid crisis response; (iii) fostering collaboration among government, NGOs, and academic institutions for effective crisis management; and (iv) developing targeted research on climate change impacts, predictive models, and long‐term health monitoring. We emphasize the critical need for coordinated conservation efforts to protect wild primates and maintain natural ecosystem resilience in the face of escalating climate challenges. Summary: In May and June 2024, over 300 howler monkeys died in southern Mexico.Key evidence points to heatstroke as the primary cause of death, exacerbated by limited hydration and reduced dietary diversity in disturbed habitats.This event highlights the critical need for coordinated conservation efforts to protect wild primates in the face of escalating climate challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is little information on the prevalence of auscultatory abnormalities in anemic cats. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of cardiac murmurs and gallop sounds in a population of anemic and nonanemic cats presenting to an emergency room (ER) and to assess whether the prevalence of auscultatory abnormalities was influenced by the severity of anemia. Key Findings: Records of cats presenting to an ER between May 2021 and May 2022 or receiving a blood transfusion between September 2019 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed for presence of a murmur or gallop sound. Cats with known structural heart disease were excluded. A murmur was found in 56 of 185 (30%) anemic cats compared with 11 of 102 (11%) nonanemic cats (p < 0.001), with a higher proportion in cats with PCV <16% (p < 0.001). Twenty‐five of 185 (14%) anemic cats had a gallop compared with 4 of 102 (4%) nonanemic cats (p = 0.009), with the highest proportion in cats with PCV 11%–20% (p < 0.001). Echocardiography was performed on 17 of 185 anemic cats; 8 had normal echocardiograms and 9 demonstrated evidence of chamber dilation without left ventricular wall thickening, consistent with anemia. Conclusions: Abnormalities on auscultation are common in anemic cats presenting to the ER, with a higher prevalence in more severely anemic cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertebrate skull is a complex structure, and studies of skull shape have yielded considerable insight into the evolutionary forces shaping specialized phenotypes in organisms as diverse as bats, frogs, and fossorial animals. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative analyses of CT scans of male skulls from 57 species of Sceloporus lizards to explore patterns of skull evolution in a group of generalist taxa. We found that most interspecific variation is in terms of skull elongation such that some species have long, narrow skulls, whereas others exhibit more compact and robust skulls. We also found strong links to overall body size, with evolutionary shifts to larger bodies being associated with more compact skulls and slower evolutionary rates. This is the opposite of the pattern in most mammals in which larger bodied species have longer snouts, and more like the pattern in frogs in which function has played a more important evolutionary role. Also, unlike other vertebrates, the jaw, anterior, and posterior parts of the Sceloporus skull are largely integrated, having evolved independently of each other only to a limited, albeit significant, degree. Our results emphasize the importance of body size in the evolutionary shaping of the skull and suggest that additional studies of behavioral function in a generalist group are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal crops are frequently rotated with broadleaf crops to achieve the benefits associated with crop diversification. However, broadleaf crops often fail in Mediterranean drylands due to their lower adaptation to drought. Alternative cereal crops such as triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) and oat (Avena sativa L.) can help diversify drylands in the Ebro valley, dominated by barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation. A 6‐year field experiment was conducted with five crop sequences under no‐tillage: triticale–wheat–barley (TWB), oat–wheat–barley (OWB), fallow–wheat–barley, monocrop wheat, and monocrop barley. Wheat and barley grain yield, N use efficiency, and water use efficiency responses were evaluated, and economic analyses of the whole sequences were performed. Oat increased subsequent wheat yields by 15% and barley yields by 12% (p < 0.001) compared to monocropping. Similar water and N availability at sowing suggest additional synergies in an OWB rotation (possibly pest reduction), contributing to the yield increase of both crops. However, this rotation was less profitable than a TWB rotation (p = 0.002) due to the limited adaptation of oat to Mediterranean settings. Long fallowing lacked consistent benefits in water and N availability for subsequent crops. This practice protects farmers from economic losses in low‐yielding seasons, but there is an associated opportunity cost in favorable years. The introduction of alternative cereal crops has demonstrated benefits for wheat and barley production, although greater understanding of the synergistic mechanisms involved is essential to ascertain whether resource efficiency is maintained beyond the studied timeframe. Core Ideas: Crop diversification with winter cereal crop rotations is viable in Mediterranean dryland areas.Wheat and barley tend to more efficiently use water and N in cereal rotations than as monocrop.The performance of a fallow–crop rotation is inconsistent with no clear economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The presence and intensity of heart murmurs are sensitive indicators of several cardiac diseases in dogs, particularly myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), but accurate interpretation requires substantial clinical expertise. Objectives: Assess if a machine‐learning algorithm can be trained to accurately detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs and detect cardiac disease in electronic stethoscope recordings. Animals: Dogs (n = 756) with and without cardiac disease attending referral centers in the United Kingdom. Methods: All dogs received full physical and echocardiographic examinations by a cardiologist to grade any murmurs and identify cardiac disease. A recurrent neural network algorithm, originally trained for heart murmur detection in humans, was fine‐tuned on a subset of the dog data to predict the cardiologist's murmur grade from the audio recordings. Results: The algorithm detected murmurs of any grade with a sensitivity of 87.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83.8%‐92.1%) and a specificity of 81.7% (95% CI, 72.8%‐89.0%). The predicted grade exactly matched the cardiologist's grade in 57.0% of recordings (95% CI, 52.8%‐61.0%). The algorithm's prediction of loud or thrilling murmurs effectively differentiated between stage B1 and B2 preclinical MMVD (area under the curve [AUC], 0.861; 95% CI, 0.791‐0.922), with a sensitivity of 81.4% (95% CI, 68.3%‐93.3%) and a specificity of 73.9% (95% CI, 61.5%‐84.9%). Conclusion and Clinical Importance: A machine‐learning algorithm trained on humans can be successfully adapted to grade heart murmurs in dogs caused by common cardiac diseases, and assist in differentiating preclinical MMVD. The model is a promising tool to enable accurate, low‐cost screening in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The proportion of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that lose systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM) in the long term is unknown. Hypothesis/Objectives: Cats with HCM will lose SAM in the long term. Loss of SAM will be associated with greater age, longer scan‐interval, and altered left ventricular (LV) dimensions. Animals: Sixty unsedated cats with HCM, not receiving beta blockers or pimobendan. Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2 referral centers. Cats were eligible if they had been diagnosed with HCM and had a repeat echocardiogram ≥1 year later. Clinical and echocardiographic data of the left heart variables were collected. Results: Thirty‐eight cats had SAM at the initial scan. After a median follow‐up time of 2.1 years (range: 1.0‐5.9), 7 cats had lost SAM (18%) and 5 cats (23%) gained SAM. On follow‐up, cats with SAM at the initial scan had a larger left atrium (P =.037), lower left atrial fractional shortening (P =.014), greater LV internal diameter in end‐systole (P =.002), and lower LV fractional shortening (P <.001). Four cats with SAM developed congestive heart failure. There were no new cases of congestive heart failure or change in left heart variables in cats without SAM at the initial scan. The gain or loss of SAM was not associated with age or time between scans. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Similar proportions of cats gained or lost SAM. Cats with SAM at baseline had more evidence of disease progression than cats without SAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the evolutionary trajectories of Rhipicephalus ticks (Ixodidae) through the interpretation of molecular phylogenetics, elucidating their chromatographic spectrum. The use of advanced chromatographic tools in this study explored the dynamics chemical profiling, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary history and ecological adaptations. Prevalence of Rhipicephalus ticks was 4.5% in sheep and 3.9% in goats. The ITS2 sequence of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus (OK642408) and Rhipicephalus microplus (OK642409) form a distinct clade with sequences from other countries. The 16S rRNA sequences of R. sanguineus (OK560870) clustered with sequences form three lineages, tropical, temperate, and south‐eastern. The Cox I gene‐identified Rhipicephalus turanicus (OK623472) and R. microplus (OK623463) form separate clades with sequences. The HPLC chromatogram of tick samples reveals a diverse array of identified hydrocarbons, explained the complex chemical composition of their exoskeletons. This analytical approach provides valuable insights into the specific hydrocarbon profiles, allowing for potential applications in species differentiation, ecological studies, and a deeper understanding of the functional roles played by hydrocarbon compounds in tick physiology. The findings revealed the potential of applying molecular phylogenetics tools with chromatography not only to enhance our understanding of tick evolution but also to inform strategies for disease control and management in regions where Rhipicephalus ticks (Ixodidae) are endemic. Research Highlights: Chemical mapping utilizing advanced chromatographic techniques.Scanning microscopic insights high‐resolution scanning tool to observe structural and morphological features of ticks at a molecular level.Molecular phylogeny data elucidate the evolutionary relationships among tick species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitism is a strong selective pressure, and its study is crucial for predicting the persistence of host species. Mantled howler monkeys are infected by the larvae of the bot fly Cuterebra baeri. This parasitosis produces myiasis and may have negative impacts on host health, although systematic information on the dynamics of this host‐parasite relationship is very limited. Currently, all available information on infection patterns of C. baeri comes from a single mantled howler monkey population (Barro Colorado Island, Panama). Therefore, in this study we describe temporal variation in infection patterns for a newly mantled howler monkey population and analyze the relationship between climate and infection likelihood. We assessed the presence of C. baeri nodules in 17 adult individuals in Los Tuxtlas for 10 months through direct observation and compiled data on ambient temperature and rainfall. Most subjects had nodules during the study and there were no differences between sexes in the number of nodules. Nodules were usually located in the neck. Prevalence and abundance of nodules peaked thrice during the study (February, April, and September), a pattern that was very similar to that of parasitism intensity (February, April, and August). Incidence closely tracked these peaks, increasing before and decreasing after them. The likelihood of nodule appearance increased when both mean and minimum temperature decreased in the 24–21 prior days to nodule appearance. It also increased with decreased rainfall in the 5–2 prior days to nodule appearance. Although only three of the eight analyzed climate variables had a significant effect on parasitosis, these results suggest that climate may affect pupal development and the access of larvae to hosts. Besides contributing data on C. baeri parasitism for a new mantled howler monkey population, our study provides novel information on the influence of environmental factors on the dynamics of host‐parasite systems. Research highlights: Most mantled howler monkeys were parasitized by the bot fly Cuterebra baeri.Prevalence, abundance, and intensity of bot fly nodules peaked thrice during the study, with parasitism incidence closely tracking these peaks (increasing before and decreasing after them)The likelihood of infection increased with decreasing mean and minimum temperature in the 24 to 21 prior days.The likelihood of infection increased with decreasing rainfall 5–2 days before nodule appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine turtles are a group of imperiled marine megafauna particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors. Most long‐term studies of marine turtles are based on nesting surveys which focus on numbers of eggs, hatchlings, and nesting females. However, we know less about long‐term abundance trends of immature and adult turtles in the marine environment. To address this data gap, we examined records from 35,000 underwater visual census (UVC) dives (1993–2019) and short‐term in‐water turtle survey data (2009–2014) at Cocos Island, Costa Rica. During UVCs, trained divemasters from UnderSea Hunter recorded observations of two species of marine turtles—green Chelonia mydas and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata. Our short‐term in‐water surveys revealed that most turtles at Cocos are greens, but both immature and mature greens occur at Cocos. We analyzed long‐term UVC data using a hierarchical modeling approach and we modeled a 26% decrease in the relative abundance of turtles observed on dives each year. Our model also revealed potential interactions between tiger sharks and turtles, finding that for each additional tiger shark present during a dive, the predicted relative abundance of turtles decreased by 43%. Lastly, our model suggested the influence of environmental variation on marine turtle relative abundance; a 1°C increase in sea surface temperature (SST) decreased the predicted relative abundance of turtles by 7%. Our results suggest that marine turtles are sensitive to long‐term environmental and oceanographic changes, and potentially avoid certain areas to reduce exposure to tiger sharks. Given our study area is already protected, there needs to be more focus on protecting adult turtles during their movements across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Our work also highlights the importance of long‐term underwater surveys to monitor adult turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional database systems function as static data repositories, storing vast amounts of facts and offering efficient query processing capabilities. The sheer volume of data these systems store has a direct impact on their scalability, both in terms of storage space and query processing time. Deductive database systems, on the other hand, require far less storage space since they derive new knowledge by applying inference rules. The challenge is how to efficiently obtain the required derivations, compared to having them in explicit form. In this study, we concentrate on a set of predefined inference rules for subsumption and disjointness relations, including their negations. We use compact data structures to store the facts and provide algorithms to support each type of relation, minimizing even further the storage space requirements. Our experimental findings demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, which not only saves space but is often faster than a baseline that uses well‐known graph traversal algorithms implemented on top of a traditional adjacency list representation to derive the relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibian survival is imperiled by increasing anthropogenic disturbance and insufficient conservation efforts. Spatial prioritization is an essential tool that allows for optimization of scarce conservation resources and the identification of protected area networks that will maintain their effectiveness in the future. This study focuses on amphibians in the Sierra Madre del Sur, a Mexican biogeographic province with high amphibian species richness and endemism. We aim to (i) assess the performance of the current protected area network and (ii) identify potential expansion areas of the current network, considering their persistence in time. Using occurrence data of 107 species, we estimated distributions with species distribution models and buffers. Species were weighted according to their national and international conservation status, and future land‐use change scenarios were incorporated to identify priority areas using Zonation software. Results revealed poor performance of the current protected areas network for amphibian conservation, failing to cover any of the top 2% of amphibian priority areas. Many protected areas fall outside the top 30% priority, indicating inadequate location of protected areas for amphibian conservation. However, minimal network expansions could significantly enhance protection for high‐risk species, particularly for the Plethodontidae family. Our study highlights the potential of systematic conservation planning in improving efficient amphibian conservation, even with minimal expansions of key areas. Finally, our findings provide important insights into amphibian conservation in a region with high levels of endemism that has often been neglected in terms of biodiversity conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Family support in patients with tuberculosis (TB) in a concept that does not have definition and attributes that clarify the evolution of the concept, its usefulness, and practicality in the context of science. Objective: To clarify the progress of the concept of family support in patients with TB in the nursing area through the concept analysis technique. Data Source: We searched the databases MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Ovid Nursing, and Scopus. The keywords used were "family support," "tuberculosis," and "nursing" combined with the Boolean operator "AND" as follows: ((family support) AND (tuberculosis)) AND (nursing). Method of Revision: The method of concept analysis proposed by Hupcey and Morse was used, which consists of four principles: epistemological, linguistic, logical, and pragmatic. Results and Discussion: Epistemologically, it was established that family support offers a positive influence that facilitates and strengthens interrelationships with the other; linguistically, it was found that its definition as support and trust is consistent with the literature; logically, it was determined that there are theories that address family support and family interrelationships as a priority source for treatment; and in the pragmatic, the maturity of the concept is not declared, but the presence of empirical indicators that validate the attributes in science is declared. Conclusion: The use of the methodology contributed to the identification of the attributes of the concept and some definitions, instruments, and usefulness in different disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rape followed by murder against children and adolescents is one of the most serious existing crimes. The autopsies of victims of violent crimes can provide fundamental findings for the investigative process and the pursuit of justice. This research conducts a descriptive analysis of the most important findings from the autopsies of 27 cases of children and adolescents who died in Chile between 1998 and 2021 as a result of rape followed by homicide (n = 27), as well as from the judiciary rulings of these cases to gather information related to the perpetrators. It was found that the victims of this crime are mostly girls with an average age of 10, while the perpetrators are primarily single men aged 29 on average, most of whom have not finished high school. A significant relationship was found between the location of the crime and the cause of death and signs of sexual contact, the marital status of the perpetrator and the cause of death, the age of the perpetrator and signs of sexual contact, and the relationship between victim and perpetrator and signs of sexual contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined victim participation in parole processes, particularly in countries that have specific procedures for hearing victims' statements in post‐conviction proceedings. This study, through in‐depth interviews, explores the experiences of seven indirect victims of child sexual homicide, identifying their needs and expectations in a justice system lacking formal mechanisms for their involvement. Results emphasize the necessity for official information for families and the consequent frustration from the absence of formal participation. Parole application becomes a new challenge to the ongoing grieving process, leading to distress responses that may require specialized care. Recommendations about formal mechanisms for victim notification, participation and support during the parole process are noted to acknowledge their experience and emotional impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Head and neck cancers (HNC) present diagnostic challenges due to multifocal disease manifestations, posing difficulties in distinguishing between metastatic disease and second primary malignancies (SPM). This complexity underscores the need for advanced diagnostic approaches. Emerging technologies, such as next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and molecular classifier assays, show promise in providing precise insights into the diverse etiologies of HNC. Method: In this article, we employed NGS and molecular classifier assays to delve into three distinct clinical cases. The objective was to showcase the instrumental role of these technologies in facilitating accurate diagnoses and differentiating between metastatic disease and SPM in HNC cases. Results: The results of this series highlight the effectiveness of NGS and molecular classifier assays in enhancing diagnostic accuracy for HNC and contributing to the precise differentiation of disease etiologies. The utilization of these advanced technologies proved instrumental in avoiding unnecessary interventions and paved the way for more targeted and effective treatment strategies. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the necessity of incorporating advanced molecular testing technologies into the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for HNC, thereby championing a more nuanced and effective approach to managing these complex cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to investigate the association of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength indicators with gray matter volume (GMV) and to study whether fitness‐related regions of GMV are associated to executive function (EF) in cognitively normal older adults. Ninety‐one cognitively normal older adults (71.69 ± 3.91 years; 57.14% females) participated in this study from the AGUEDA trial. CRF was measured by a 2‐km walking test and a 6‐min walking test. Muscular strength was measured by handgrip, biceps curl, squats, and isokinetic strength tests. T1‐weigthed images were obtained through a magnetic resonance scan. GMV was determined by voxel‐based morphometric analysis. Standardized EF tests were performed. CRF did not show any positive association with GMV. Handgrip strength was positively associated with GMV (p < 0.001) in nine regions (β from 0.6 to 0.8 and k from 106 to 1927) and knee extension strength in three regions (β from 0.4 to 0.5 and k from 76 to 2776). Squats strength was negatively associated with GMV (p < 0.001) in two regions (β = −0.3, k = 1102 and k = 152) and the 2‐km walking test in one region (β = −0.4, k = 99). Only handgrip strength‐related GMV was associated with cognitive flexibility (p = 0.039, β = 0.215) and spatial working memory (p < 0.03, β 0.247–0.317), but not with EF score (p > 0.05). Muscular strength, but no CRF, may be positively related to GMV in cortical and subcortical regions, with implications for specific cognitive domains rather than the overall EF score. Specifically, handgrip strength was the indicator most associated with higher GMV, while squats strength and CRF were negatively related to GMV. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05186090. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible updating of information in Visual Working Memory (VWM) is crucial to deal with its limited capacity. Previous research has shown that the removal of no longer relevant information takes some time to complete. Here, we sought to study the time course of such removal by tracking the accompanying drop in load through behavioral and neurophysiological measures. In the first experimental session, participants completed a visuospatial retro‐cue task in which the Cue‐Target Interval (CTI) was manipulated. The performance revealed that it takes about half a second to make full use of the retro‐cue. In a second session, we sought to study the dynamics of load‐related electroencephalographic (EEG) signals to track the removal of information. We applied Multivariate Pattern Analysis (MVPA) to EEG data from the same task. Right after encoding, results replicated previous research using MVPA to decode load. However, especially after the retro‐cue, results suggested that classifiers were mainly sensitive to a selection component, and not so much to load per se. Additionally, visual cue variations, as well as eye movements that accompany load manipulations can also contribute to decoding. These findings advise caution when using MVPA to decode VWM load, as classifiers may be sensitive to confounding operations. It takes half a second to remove visuospatial information from working memory. Applying MVPA to decode working memory load from EEG data can be confounded by selection decoding. Selection of visual information from the environment or from working memory is similarly supported by eye movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Outcomes in alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) are influenced by several race and ethnic factors, yet its natural history across the continuum of patients in different stages of the disease is unknown. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of U.S. adults from 2011 to 2018, using three nationally representative databases to examine potential disparities in relevant outcomes among racial and ethnic groups. Our analysis included logistic and linear regressions, along with competing risk analysis. Results: Black individuals had the highest daily alcohol consumption (12.6 g/day) while Hispanic participants had the largest prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (33.5%). In a multivariable‐adjusted model, Hispanic and Asian participants were independently associated with a higher ALD prevalence compared to Non‐Hispanic White interviewees (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–1.8 and OR: 1.5 95% CI:1.1–2.0, respectively), while Blacks participants had a lower ALD prevalence (OR:.7 95% CI:.6–.9), and a lower risk of mortality during hospitalization due to ALD (OR:.83 95% CI:.73–.94). Finally, a multivariate competing‐risk analysis showed that Hispanic ethnicity had a decreased probability of liver transplantation if waitlisted for ALD (SHR:.7, 95% CI:.6–.8) along with female Asian population (HR:.40, 95% CI:.26–.62). Conclusions: After accounting for key social and biological health determinants, the Hispanic population showed an increased risk of ALD prevalence, even with lower alcohol consumption. Additionally, Hispanic and Asian female patients had reduced access to liver transplantation compared to other enlisted patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults (AYA) worldwide. Although successful treatment of cancer in AYA has increased in recent years in most of the world, this is not true for many low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) where over 80% of all AYA live. This study investigated the needs of AYA with cancer in parts of Latin America (LATAM) through the perspectives of non‐physician health care providers and partners. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews (in Spanish) were conducted with non‐physician partners from Mexico, Peru, Central America, and the Caribbean over Zoom. Participants were recruited through previously identified local physicians and international non‐physician professionals working in these countries. Transcripts were coded and key themes identified until thematic saturation was reached (Atlas.ti). Findings: Thirty participants representing eight countries were interviewed, providing 1202 min of transcript data. Data were organized into barriers, facilitators, and strategies to improve the delivery of health care for AYA with cancer in LATAM at the patient‐ (e.g., financial barriers, continued schooling), parent‐ (e.g., limited medical literacy, advocacy), and hospital‐level (e.g., structural barriers, increasing funding). Interpretation: There are many similarities in the barriers and facilitators to AYA care between LATAM and high‐income countries (HIC); however, some characteristics are more unique to LATAM, for example, strict age restrictions for pediatric care and abandonment of therapy. As LATAM countries continue to build cancer control programs, there is an opportunity to consider our identified barriers, facilitators, and strategies to address the unique needs of AYA with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopreservation is a powerful strategy to prolong the shelf life of food products by applying naturally occurring microorganisms and/or their metabolites. Current food trends emphasise the need to develop alternatives for chemical or thermal preservation methods. In this line, different fermentation starters from table olives present the potential to control spoilage or pathogen‐occurring microorganism in table olives storage. One of the most interesting family used as biopreservative culture is Lactobacillaceae and it has also been used in combination with yeasts as olive fermentation starter. Lactic acid bacteria, from Lactobacillaceae family, are characterised by the production of bacteriocins, proteins with the potential for preserving food by changing the organisation of the membrane of spoilage microorganisms. These bacteriocins‐producing bacteria can be directly inoculated, although nanosystem technology is the most promising incorporation strategy. In table olives, the most commonly used starters are Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, among others. These strains with biopreservation characteristics, inoculated alone or in mixed cultures, ensure food safety by conferring the product added value and prolonging product shelf life. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a control approach for obtaining predefined‐time robust tracking in multiplicative systems despite positive, bounded, and unknown multiplicative disturbances. The proposed approach is distinguished by imposing predefined‐time convergence, a topic previously studied in conventional calculus in the context of multiplicative systems. Multiplicative calculus is recognized as a beneficial tool that complements standard calculus by simplifying the modeling and comprehension of numerous processes. Simulations are carried out to illustrate that the given control strategy enforces convergence before a predefined time instant and, while inducing robustness against system uncertainties. The findings of this article pave the way for further research into predefined‐time synchronization of multiplicative oscillator systems, which would bring promising implications for data encryption and secure communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since fall 2019, Odessa College's dual credit program has grown by 67%. Texas' initiatives, around college, career, and military readiness (CCMR), certainly provided an impetus for growth in dual credit, but this tremendous level of growth points to a number of structural changes Odessa College made to its dual credit program. The article focuses how the college created deeper, systemic partnerships between the dual credit program and the school districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells (DCs) are central regulators of the immune response by detecting inflammatory signals, aberrant cells, or pathogens. DC‐mediated immune surveillance requires morphology changes to adapt to the physical and biochemical cues of the external environment. These changes are assisted by a dynamic actin cytoskeleton–membrane interface connected to surface receptors that will trigger signaling cascades. In recent years, the development of synthetic immune environments has allowed to investigate the impact of the external environment in the immune cell response. In this direction, the bioengineering of functional topographical features should make it possible to establish how membrane morphology modulates specific cellular functions in DCs. Herein, the engineering of one‐dimensional nanostructured SiO2 surfaces by soft‐nanoimprint lithography to manipulate the membrane morphology of ex vivo human DCs is reported. Super‐resolution microscopy and live‐cell imaging studies show that vertical pillar topographies promote the patterning and stabilization of adhesive actin‐enriched structures in DCs. Furthermore, vertical topographies stimulate the spatial organization of innate immune receptors and regulate the Syk‐ and ERK‐mediated signaling pathways across the cell membrane. In conclusion, engineered SiO2 surface topographies can modulate the cellular response of ex vivo human immune cells by imposing local plasma membrane nano‐deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The quantitative interpretation of the radiometric information extracted from infrared (IR) images in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is an open problem yet to be solved. This is of particular value given that DM2 is a worldwide health problem and onset for evolution toward diabetic foot disease (DFD). Since DM2 causes changes at the vascular and neurological levels, the metabolic heat distribution on the outer skin is modified as a consequence of such alterations. Of particular interest in this contribution are those alterations displayed over the skin's heat patterns at the lower limbs. At the core of such alterations is the deterioration of the vascular and neurological networks responsible for procuring systemic thermoregulation. It is within this context that IR imaging is introduced as a likely aiding tool to assist with the clinical diagnosis of DM2 at stages early enough to prevent the evolution of the DFD. Methods: IR images of lower limbs are acquired from a cohort of individuals clinically diagnosed with and without DM2. Additional inclusion criteria for patients are to be free from any visible wound or tissue‐related trauma (e.g., injuries, edema, and so forth), and also free from non‐metabolic comorbidities. All images and data are equally processed and analyzed using indices that evaluate the spatial and temporal evolution of temperature distribution in lower limbs. We studied the temporal response of individuals' legs after inducing an external stimulus. For this purpose, we combine the information of the asymmetry and thermal response index (ATR) and the thermal response index (TRI), computed using images at different times, improving the results previously obtained individually with ATR and TRI. Results: A novel representation of the information extracted from IR images of the lower limbs in individuals with and without DM2 is presented. This representation was built using the ATR and TRI indices for the anterior and posterior views (PVs), individually and combining the information from both views. In all cases, the information of each index and each view presents linearity properties that allow said information to be interpreted quantitatively in a well‐defined and limited space. This representation, built in a polar coordinate space, allows obtaining sensitivity values of 86%, 97%, and 97%, and specificity values of 83%, 72%, and 78% for the anterior view (AV), the PV, and the combined views, respectively. Additionally, it was observed that the angular variable that defines this new representation space allows to significantly (p < 0.01) differentiate the groups, while correlating with clinical variables of interest, such as glucose and glycated hemoglobin. Conclusion: The linearity properties that exist between the ATR and TRI indices allow a quantitative interpretation of the information extracted from IR images of the lower extremities of individuals with and without DM2, and allow the construction of a representation space that eliminates possible ambiguities in the interpretation, while simplifying it, making it accessible for clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intricate interplay between evolutionary and demographic processes has frequently resulted in complex patterns of genetic and phenotypic diversity in alpine lineages, posing serious challenges to species delimitation and biodiversity conservation planning. Here we integrate genomic data, geometric morphometric analyses and thermal tolerance experiments to explore the role of Pleistocene climatic changes and adaptation to alpine environments on patterns of genomic and phenotypic variation in diving beetles from the taxonomically complex Agabus bipustulatus species group. Genetic structure and phylogenomic analyses revealed the presence of three geographically cohesive lineages, two representing trans‐Palearctic and Iberian populations of the elevation‐generalist A. bipustulatus and another corresponding to the strictly‐alpine A. nevadensis, a narrow‐range endemic taxon from the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southeastern Iberia. The best‐supported model of lineage divergence, along with the existence of pervasive genetic introgression and admixture in secondary contact zones, is consistent with a scenario of population isolation and connectivity linked to Quaternary climatic oscillations. Our results suggest that A. nevadensis is an alpine ecotype of A. bipustulatus, whose genotypic, morphological and physiological differentiation likely resulted from an interplay between population isolation and local altitudinal adaptation. Remarkably, within the Iberian Peninsula, such ecotypic differentiation is unique to Sierra Nevada populations and has not been replicated in other alpine populations of A. bipustulatus. Collectively, our study supports fast ecotypic differentiation and incipient speciation processes within the study complex and points to Pleistocene glaciations and local adaptation along elevational gradients as key drivers of biodiversity generation in alpine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YouTube is the third most popular app in the world and continues to grow each year while it reaches over 2 billion users a month. A variety of veterinary topics are addressed on YouTube but to date there have been no studies analysing misinformation of various canine cancer topics on YouTube or social media. This study described the characteristics of 99 unique videos and used the validated DISCERN quality criteria for consumer health information and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to characterize their usefulness. The overall median DISCERN quality score was 3 (out of 5), the median PEMAT understandability score was 72%, and 61% of videos contained little to no misinformation. 53% of videos were created by veterinarians and this subset had significantly higher PEMAT understandability and DISCERN quality scores compared with client‐created content (p =.0228 and p ≤.0001, respectively). Videos with little to no misinformation had statistically significant higher DISCERN quality scores (3 vs. 2, p =.0001). There was no statistical significance between misinformation levels and video length, PEMAT understandability, thumbs up/view, or views/mo. These data reveal similar rates of misinformation in videos on canine cancer compared to that reported for various human cancer topics. This study highlights the need for veterinarians to guide clients to more reliable and understandable information regarding their pet's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obesity is a major health burden worldwide. Although bariatric surgery (BS) is recognized as an effective strategy for weight loss and comorbidities improvement, its impact on muscle strength and quality is still unclear. We aimed to examine postoperative changes in muscle strength and quality and their relationship with body mass index (BMI) changes among adults undergoing BS. To this end, we systematically searched the WoS, PubMed, EBSCO, and Scopus databases. The meta‐analyses, which included 24 articles (666 participants), showed that BS reduces absolute lower‐limb isometric strength (ES = −0.599; 95% CI = ‐0.972, −0.226; p = 0.002). Subjects who experienced a more significant reduction in BMI after BS also suffered a higher loss of absolute muscle strength. Similarly, absolute handgrip strength showed a significant decrease (ES = −0.376; 95% CI = −0.630, −0.121; p = 0.004). We found insufficient studies investigating medium‐ and long‐term changes in muscle strength and/or quality after BS. This study provides moderate‐quality evidence that BS‐induced weight loss can reduce the strength of appendicular muscles in the short term, which should be addressed in management these subjects. More high‐quality studies are needed to evaluate the impact of BS on muscle strength and the different domains of muscle quality in the medium and long term (registered on PROSPERO CRD42022332581). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most commonly detected bacteria in diabetic skin and soft tissue infections. The incidence and severity of skin and soft tissue infections are higher in patients with diabetes, indicating a potentiating mechanism of hyperglycaemia and infection. The goal of this review is to explore the metabolic and virulence factor adaptations of S. aureus under hyperglycaemic conditions. Primary data from identified studies were included and summarised in this paper. Understanding the nexus of hyperglycaemia, metabolism, and virulence factors provides insights into the complexity of diabetic skin and soft tissue infections attributed to S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protein encoded by COQ7 is required for CoQ10 synthesis in humans, hydroxylating 3‐demethoxyubiquinol (DMQ10) in the second to last steps of the pathway. COQ7 mutations lead to a primary CoQ10 deficiency syndrome associated with a pleiotropic neurological disorder. This study shows the clinical, physiological, and molecular characterization of four new cases of CoQ10 primary deficiency caused by five mutations in COQ7, three of which have not yet been described, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction in all patients. However, the specific combination of the identified variants in each patient generated precise pathophysiological and molecular alterations in fibroblasts, which would explain the differential in vitro response to supplementation therapy. Our results suggest that COQ7 dysfunction could be caused by specific structural changes that affect the interaction with COQ9 required for the DMQ10 presentation to COQ7, the substrate access to the active site, and the maintenance of the active site structure. Remarkably, patients' fibroblasts share transcriptional remodeling, supporting a modification of energy metabolism towards glycolysis, which could be an adaptive mechanism against CoQ10 deficiency. However, transcriptional analysis of mitochondria‐associated pathways showed distinct and dramatic differences between patient fibroblasts, which correlated with the extent of pathophysiological and neurological alterations observed in the probands. Overall, this study suggests that the combination of precise genetic diagnostics and the availability of new structural models of human proteins could help explain the origin of phenotypic pleiotropy observed in some genetic diseases and the different responses to available therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants provide a wide array of compounds that can be explored for potential anticancer properties. Siphonochilone, a furanoterpene that represents one of the main components of the African plant Siphonochilus aethiopicus, shows numerous health benefits. However, to date, its antiproliferative properties have not been tested. The aim of this study was to analyze the cytotoxic effects of siphonochilone on a panel of cancer cell lines and its underlying mechanism of action. Our results demonstrated that siphonochilone exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on pancreatic, breast, lung, colon, and liver cancer cell lines showing a IC50 ranging from 22 to 124 μM at 72 h of treatment and highlighting its cytotoxic effect against MCF7 and PANC1 breast and pancreas cancer cell lines (22.03 and 39.03 μM, respectively). Cell death in these tumor lines was mediated by apoptosis by the mitochondrial pathway, as evidenced by siphonochilone‐induced depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, siphonochilone treatment involves the generation of reactive oxygen species that may contribute to apoptosis induction. In this work, we described for the first time the cytotoxic properties of siphonochilone and provided data about the molecular processes of cell death. Although future studies will be necessary, our results support the interest in this molecule in relation to their clinical application in cancer, and especially in breast and pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]