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Abstract Background The intestinal barrier encompasses physical and immunological components that act to compartmentalize luminal contents, such as bacteria and endotoxins, from the host. It has been proposed that an age-related decline of intestinal barrier function may allow for the passage of luminal contents into the bloodstream, triggering a low-grade systemic inflammation termed inflamm-aging. Although there is mounting evidence to support this hypothesis in model species, it is unclear if this phenomenon occurs in humans. In addition, despite being well-established that biological sex impacts aging physiology, its influence on intestinal barrier function and inflamm-aging has not been explored. Results In this study, we observed sex differences in markers of intestinal barrier integrity, where females had increased epithelial permeability throughout life as compared to males. With age, females had an age-associated increase in circulating bacterial products and metabolites such as LPS and kynurenine, suggesting reduced barrier function. Females also had age-associated increases in established markers of inflamm-aging, including peripheral blood monocytes as well as TNF and CRP. To determine if impaired barrier function was driving inflamm-aging, we performed a mediation analysis. The results show that the loss of intestinal barrier integrity was not the mediator of inflamm-aging in humans. Instead, persistent, low-grade inflammation with age preceded the increase in circulating bacterial products, which we confirmed using animal models. We found, as in humans, that sex modified age-associated increases in circulating monocytes in mice, and that inflammation mediates the loss of intestinal barrier function. Conclusion Taken together, our results suggest that higher basal intestinal permeability in combination with age-associated inflammation, increases circulating LPS in females. Thus, targeting barrier permeability in females may slow the progression of inflamm-aging, but is unlikely to prevent it.

Abstract Upon infecting its vertebrate host, the malaria parasite initially invades the liver where it undergoes massive replication, whilst remaining clinically silent. The coordination of host responses across the complex liver tissue during malaria infection remains unexplored. Here, we perform spatial transcriptomics in combination with single-nuclei RNA sequencing over multiple time points to delineate host-pathogen interactions across Plasmodium berghei-infected liver tissues. Our data reveals significant changes in spatial gene expression in the malaria-infected tissues. These include changes related to lipid metabolism in the proximity to sites of Plasmodium infection, distinct inflammation programs between lobular zones, and regions with enrichment of different inflammatory cells, which we term ‘inflammatory hotspots’. We also observe significant upregulation of genes involved in inflammation in the control liver tissues of mice injected with mosquito salivary gland components. However, this response is considerably delayed compared to that observed in P. berghei-infected mice. Our study establishes a benchmark for investigating transcriptome changes during host-parasite interactions in tissues, it provides informative insights regarding in vivo study design linked to infection and offers a useful tool for the discovery and validation of de novo intervention strategies aimed at malaria liver stage infection.

This research aims to explain the ecranization process in the Seiren no Zange novel by Shichiri Nakayama into the Seiren no Zange drama series, as well as to analyze the impact of the ecranization process which includes aspects of reduction, addition and various changes to the story structure in plot, characters, and setting elements. The descriptive qualitative method used in this research is assisted by a structural approach. This research analysis uses the theory of ecranization. Ecranization is a form of transitioning a novel into an audiovisual display as a form of positive response or reaction to a literary work. The data collection regarding this research has been done through literature study and data sources from novels and drama series. In overall, based on the data that have been collected, this ecranization process resulted in 27 reductions, 77 additions and 25 varied changes. The produced data from this research is a form of ecranization of the novel into the Seiren no Zange drama series and the impact of the results of this ecranization.

In a context of ecological crisis, one of the major challenges of architecture is to provide sustainable and enduring solutions. The challenge is even greater considering that contemporary societies are characterized by permanent transformation. In the 1960s, Cedric Price designed the Fun Palace, a building which, conceived as a temporary event, became a referent from which lessons can be drawn to envision an ephemeral and enduring architecture. The aim of this article is to identify principles from the Fun Palace for a sustainable practice of the profession, resonating with the demands of the current ecological crisis.

HACIA EL FINAL de la Relación abreviada de un viaje hecho por el interior de la América meridional (1745), el geógrafo francés Charles de La Condamine cuenta que yendo para el puerto de Cayena (hoy Guyana francesa), donde finalmente se embarcaría hacia París tras casi un año de navegación por el río Amazonas, se vio obligado a detener su comitiva por siete días debido a las mareas bajas. Durante ese tiempo muerto en el que sus remeros «no tenían otra ocupación que la de ir a buscar agua salobre, hundiéndose en ellégamo hasta la cintura», el curioso científico aprovecha para completar sus observaciones sobre la variación de la brújula en el Cabo Norte.

Abstract Lifelong bilingualism may result in neural reserve against decline not only in the general cognitive domain, but also in social cognitive functioning. In this study, we show the brain structural correlates that are associated with second language age of acquisition (L2AoA) and theory of mind (the ability to reason about mental states) in normal aging. Participants were bilingual adults (46 young, 50 older) who completed a theory-of-mind task battery, a language background questionnaire, and an anatomical MRI scan to obtain cortical morphometric features (i.e., gray matter volume, thickness, and surface area). Findings indicated a theory-of-mind decline in older adults compared to young adults, controlling for education and general cognition. Importantly, earlier L2AoA and better theory-of-mind performance were associated with larger volume, higher thickness, and larger surface area in the bilateral temporal, medial temporal, superior parietal, and prefrontal brain regions. These regions are likely to be involved in mental representations, language, and cognitive control. The morphometric association with L2AoA in young and older adults were comparable, but its association with theory of mind was stronger in older adults than young adults. The results demonstrate that early bilingual acquisition may provide protective benefits to intact theory-of-mind abilities against normal age-related declines.

Wood is a preferred material for constructing staircases due to its appealing aesthetic features. The use of wood, especially hardwoods such as red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Quercus alba), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and hard maple (Acer saccharum), has been the main construction material for staircases over the years. Staircase designs have evolved because of the flexibility of wood and working with specialized manufacturing machinery. A stair guard system connection must be designed to resist rotational and translational movements whenever a force is applied to the handrail. The demand for structural design values in wooden stair guards has been steadily increasing, driven by the needs of engineers, designers, builders, and end-users alike. This paper presents experimental data for four stair guard connections (post-to-rail, infill-to-footing, infill-to-rail, and rail-to-rail) encountered in a hardwood stairway handrail guard system. The data generated from this research could be useful for modeling the structural behavior of the connections.

Background & Aims: The intestinal epithelium functions both in nutrient absorption and as a barrier, separating the luminal contents from a network of vascular, fibroblastic, and immune cells underneath. After injury to the intestine, multiple cell populations cooperate to drive regeneration of the mucosal barrier, including lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). A population of granulocytic immature myeloid cells (IMCs), marked by Hdc, participate in regeneration of multiple organs such as the colon and central nervous system, and their contribution to intestinal regeneration was investigated. Methods: By using male and female histidine decarboxylase (Hdc) green fluorescent reporter (GFP) mice, we investigated the role of Hdc+ IMCs in intestinal regeneration after exposure to 12 Gy whole-body irradiation. The movement of IMCs was analyzed using flow cytometry and immunostaining. Ablation of Hdc+ cells using the HdcCreERT2 tamoxifen-inducible recombinase Cre system, conditional knockout of Prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2 (Ptgs2) in Hdc+ cells using HdcCre; Ptgs2 floxed mice, and visualization of LECs using Prox1tdTomato mice also was performed. The role of microbial signals was investigated by knocking down mice gut microbiomes using antibiotic cocktail gavages. Results: We found that Hdc+ IMCs infiltrate the injured intestine after irradiation injury and promote epithelial regeneration in part by modulating LEC activity. Hdc+ IMCs express Ptgs2 (encoding cyclooxygenase-2/COX-2), and enables them to produce prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandin E2 acts on the prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 receptor (EP4) on LECs to promote lymphangiogenesis and induce the expression of proregenerative factors including R-spondin 3. Depletion of gut microbes leads to reduced intestinal regeneration by impaired recruitment of IMCs. Conclusions: Altogether, our results unveil a critical role for IMCs in intestinal repair by modulating LEC activity and implicate gut microbes as mediators of intestinal regeneration.

In Western countries, music educators have made efforts to revitalise enthusiasm for music education by integrating more mainstream and culturally-relevant genres into their curriculum. Conversely, current research indicates that popular music pedagogy in mainland China is not encouraged and faces many obstacles, as school music education is used to promote Chinese traditional music and bolster nationalism. This qualitative case study investigates how popular music pedagogy in an international school, based in China, accommodates the diverse cultural backgrounds of its Chinese and non-Chinese students when teaching Western and Chinese popular music. For 6 weeks, I had the privilege of closely observing a music class containing a mixture of 12 Chinese and non-Chinese students at an international secondary school based in Shanghai, China. Findings revealed that students were given autonomy to engage with their preferred music genre during lessons that focused on music performance and composition. Interestingly, Chinese students gravitated towards studying C-pop on their own accord, a domestic and sanitised form of popular music. However, the study of modern popular music genres was not prevalent during the music appraisal lessons. The challenges of integrating Chinese popular music pedagogy in an international classroom setting are also discussed.

Recently, topical products advertising cannabinoid ingredients have gained popularity. Consumers are seeing an increase of commercial products containing ingredients from hemp oil to cannabidiol (CBD) due to health benefit claims. Cosmetic products containing cannabinoids are currently not regulated at the federal level. A laboratory experiment for undergraduate students in analytical and organic chemistry courses was developed utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to identify and quantify cannabinoid compounds present in commercially available topical products. Students used calibration curves of a cannabinoid standard to quantify cannabinoids present in the CBD products. By comparing relative retention times of the cannabinoids present in the standard, students were able to identify the cannabinoids present in their lotion sample. Responsibilities and assignments suit students ranging from introductory to advanced chemistry courses. Students are provided the opportunity to extract and experimentally calculate the amount of CBD and compare to the amounts advertised on product labels. Results showed that the average CBD amounts were higher than advertised for all lotions except CBDFx when analyzed using HPLC. This experiment can be modified to incorporate a variety of different topical water-based products including hair products, shampoo, and other cosmetics. Furthermore, an analysis of samples using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was also developed to adapt to instrument availability.

Summary: Here, we present a protocol for rapidly isolating single cells from the mouse pancreas, minimizing damage caused by digestive enzymes in exocrine cells. We guide you through steps to optimize the dissection sequence, enzyme composition, and operational procedures, resulting in high yields of viable pancreatic single cells. This protocol can be applied across a wide range of research areas, including single-cell sequencing, gene expression profiling, primary cell culture, and even the development of spheroids or organoids.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Jiang et al. (2023).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Abstract Microcystin poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. There is a pressing need to understand the production, movement, and storage of microcystin in lakes. We constructed a conceptual biogeochemical model for microcystin through a comprehensive literature synthesis, identifying four major pools and nine major fluxes in lakes that also connect to the terrestrial environment. This conceptual model can be used as the framework for developing ecosystem mass balances of microcystin. We propose that the concentration of microcystin in the water column is the balance between the import, sediment translocation, production and degradation, uptake, burial, and export. However, substantial unknowns remain pertaining to the magnitude and movement of microcystin. Future investigations should focus on sediment fluxes, drivers of biodegradation, and seasonal dynamics. Adopting the framework of a “microcystin cycle” improves our understanding of processes driving toxin prevalence and helps to prioritize strategies for minimizing exposure risks.

There has been a rapid proliferation of electronic books in recent years. Given that dual-language books may impose extra cognitive load on children's information processing capacity, we investigated whether multimedia features in e-books (i.e., audio narration and tracking animation) were effective in directing preschoolers' attention to print in the target language. Seventy-one English-and-Mandarin speaking 4- to 6-year-olds were presented with single-language and dual-language e-books (with and without enhancing features) on a computer fitted with an eye tracker to read independently. Children attended more to their dominant language text than the other when reading dual-language texts silently but comparably in single-language texts. Most importantly, enhancing electronic features with synchronized dual-channel (visual and audio) inputs and attention-guiding cues effectively directed children's attention to print in both their dominant and nondominant languages. These findings provide important implications on how computerized electronic books affect children's attention to print and in turn support the development of children's emergent literacy.

Background: Formal transition programs prepare pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) for successful lifelong management of their disease. Conducting transition program activities in pediatric cardiology clinics can be a challenge if there are limited resources. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a medical assistant (MA)-facilitated transition activity in increasing documentation of transition discussions and characterize staff acceptability of this intervention. Method: We performed a prospective exploratory study over a five-week period. CHD patients aged 13 and older presenting for routine pediatric cardiology follow-up appointments received a prompt from the MA to view a list of 17 transition topics from which to choose topics for discussion with the pediatric cardiologist during the clinic visit. Historical control group data were collected from the same period, two years prior. We compared the presence of documentation of transition discussions between the transition activity and control group using comparative statistics. Staff acceptability was assessed using the revised Treatment Acceptability and Preference Questionnaire. Results: A total of 14 staff members participated in the transition activity involving 29 patients. Significantly more transition discussions were documented in the transition activity group compared with the historic control group (p

En la era digital se han multiplicado las investigaciones en arquitectura de inspiración biológica. El artículo desarrolla la tesis de que las concepciones arquitectónicas subyacentes a estas exploraciones son el resultado de una mutación ontológica del objeto, derivada del marco cibernético. Además, plantea una reflexión en torno a la pregunta planteada por la convocatoria “verde: lo orgánico”, sobre si la adopción de la biología como modelo explicativo en la arquitectura puede permitir a la naturaleza actuar como agente conformador del entorno urbano-arquitectónico.

IntroductionThe impact of bilingualism on executive function has been extensively discussed, but inconsistent evidence has been reported. These discrepancies may stem from the complexities of being bilingual and the various ways of measuring bilingual experiences. This study aims to clarify the debate by providing a systematic critique and analysis on how different measurements of bilingualism can lead to different results within the same group of bilinguals.MethodsWe tested 48 cognitively healthy (CH) and 43 cognitively impaired (CI) older adults (Mage = 73.25 and 79.72 years, respectively) using the color-shape switching task. We assessed bilingualism using six different methods based on dominant language usage: five categorical computations and one continuous measurement.Results and discussionThe results varied depending on the method of measuring bilingualism and the participant group. For CH older adults, a significant effect of bilingualism on cognition performance was observed only when using the categorical variable based on a cutoff of 70% dominant language usage, but not with other categorical computations or the continuous approach. For CI older adults, no effect of bilingualism was found, regardless of the type of measurement used. In summary, our results demonstrated that different measurements of language use can yield different results within the same group of bilinguals using a single task. Our study yielded important implications for bilingual research: the findings challenge the current methodologies used to describe bilingual experiences and call for care and consideration of context and the complexity when examining the effects of bilingual experience on executive functions.

Employing colliding-pulse injection has been shown to enable the generation of high-quality electron beams from laser–plasma accelerators. Here, by using test particle simulations, Hamiltonian analysis, and multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we lay the theoretical framework for spin-polarized electron beam generation in the colliding-pulse injection scheme. Furthermore, we show that this scheme enables the production of quasi-monoenergetic electron beams in excess of 80% polarization and tens of pC charge with commercial 10-TW-class laser systems.

Abstract Understanding the influence of non‐native herbivores on ecosystems by means of dietary foraging and seed dispersal is important for understanding how non‐native species can alter an invaded landscape, yet requires multiple methodologies. In south‐eastern Australia, introduced sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) are rapidly expanding in range and placing native ecosystems at risk through browsing and as vectors for seed dispersal. We simultaneously investigated sambar deer dietary composition and seed dispersal using DNA sequencing and germination trials, from faecal pellets collected in alpine and wet forest ecosystems. This allowed us to contrast the dietary impacts of introduced sambar deer in different environments, and to explore the potential for habitat‐specific variation in diet. DNA sequencing of the trnL, ITS2 and rbcL gene regions revealed a diverse plant species dietary composition comprising 1003 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Sambar deer exhibited intermediate feeder behaviours dominated by forbs in alpine and shrubs in wet forest ecosystems. A large proportion of plant OTUs were considered likely to be native, however, the proportion of exotic species in the diet in both ecosystems was greater than would be expected based on the proportion of exotic species in each of the two landscapes. Seed germination trials indicated that sambar deer can disperse a substantial number of native and exotic species in both alpine and wet forest ecosystems. In alpine ecosystems, an individual sambar deer was estimated to disperse on average 816 (±193) seeds per day during the study period, of which 652 (±176) were exotic. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that native plant species comprise the majority of sambar deer diets in Australian ecosystems and that the introduced species is dispersing both native and exotic plant species via endozoochory. However, exotic species seedling germination numbers were significantly higher in alpine ecosystems, and given the large daily movements of sambar deer, represents a significant vector for the spread of exotic plant species. Management of native plant species and vegetation communities of conservation significance, or at risk to sambar deer browsing is of high priority, through either the removal of sambar deer or implementation of exclusion‐based methods.

In the West, the music practice of turntablism continues to gain traction and awareness both inside and outside of the music classroom, as DJing becomes more prevalent in mainstream music culture. This qualitative study investigates the extent and type of turntablism pedagogy in China, a country with different cultural and political values where traditional Chinese music remains the centre of Chinese music education. Twelve DJs from cities across China took part in a series of in-depth interviews. They were asked to recall their experiences learning how to DJ in China, as well as their opinions of turntablism's inclusion in music education. Findings showed that participants preferred independent learning methods. In particular, participants significantly depended on Chinese social media applications to learn about turntablism and develop a national DJing culture. An absence of turntablism and popular music pedagogy in Chinese music education was the main reason for participants' self-discovery and learning of turntablism. Findings also revealed a cultural disconnect between the younger generation engrossed in DJing versus the older generation's fixation on traditional Chinese music to uphold nationalism and patriotism in society. This study examines an ongoing struggle regarding the extent to which popular music performance practices can be accommodated to work with the political aims of Chinese music education.

Abstract Every year ~ 6–8 million tonnes of shrimp, crab, and lobster shell wastes are generated, requiring costly disposal procedures. In this study, the chitin content of shrimp shell waste was oxidized to produce chitin nanocrystals (ChNC) and mechanically fibrillated to obtain chitin nanofibers (ChNF) and evaluated as additives for mortar. ChNF (0.075 wt%) and ChNC (0.05 wt%) retarded the final setting time by 50 and 30 min, likely through cement dispersion by electrostatic repulsion. ChNF (0.05 wt%) with a larger aspect ratio than ChNC resulted in the greatest improved flexural strength and fracture energy by 24% and 28%. Elastic modulus increased by up to 91% and 43% with ChNC and ChNF. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed ChNF (0.05 wt%) enhanced calcium–silicate–hydrate structure with a 41% higher degree of polymerization, 9% more silicate chain length, and a 15% higher degree of hydration at 28 days. Based on the findings, chitin seems a viable biomass source for powerful structural nanofibers and nanocrystals for cementitious systems to divert seafood waste from landfills or the sea.

Low-enriched uranium (LEU) alloyed with 10% Mo (U-10Mo) is being considered as a promising alternative to oxide-based dispersion fuel with high-enriched uranium for use in research reactors. The configuration of this proposed LEU monolithic LEU fuel plate consists of a U-10Mo plate-type fuel foil with a 25 μm zirconium interlayer barrier clad with an aluminum alloy (AA6061). In certain research reactors, the clad AA6061 is coated with a boehmite layer to prevent corrosion. The boehmite layer has a high-pH passivation range, which makes it resistant to oxidation. Boehmite is usually formed on the AA6061 surface by autoclave processing. Before the boehmite layer is added, the surface of the AA6061 is cleaned using techniques such as polishing and wet etching. In this study, we use multimodal analysis to examine how pretreatment of AA6061 using polishing followed by alkaline etching affects the chemical composition of the boehmite layer. X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to study the chemical changes in the boehmite layer caused by alkaline etching pretreatment. XPS provides quantitative analysis for the Al:O ratio as well as oxidation states present on the surface, which suggests slight oxidation of the boehmite surface after alkaline etching of the AA6061 surface. We further explored this suggested oxidation of the boehmite surface using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction (GI-XRD), which suggested only a small amount of aluminum oxide at the surface. The multimodal analysis and imaging yielded new insights for optimizing boehmite growth on AA6061 for research reactors.

Dans le cadre de cette contribution, notre ambition est de produire une analyse de la structuration des formations pour les enseignant·e·s d’éducation physique dans le cadre des décennies qui vont précéder la mise en place des Hautes Écoles Pédagogiques, entre les premières dynamiques d’universitarisation des sciences du sport et une sportivisation s’accélérant, dans un cadre politique singulier, avec une branche – l’éducation physique – dont une partie de la gouvernance est fédérale, dans un pays où l’école est cantonale. La temporalité de notre enquête démarre en 1972 avec la mise en application de la première Loi fédérale encourageant la gymnastique et les sports et s’étend jusqu’à l’orée des années 2000, autour de l’entrée en vigueur de la Loi fédérale sur les hautes écoles spécialisées (HES).

Leptospirosis is largely an occupational disease for people working with livestock in Aotearoa New Zealand. Introduction of livestock vaccination and use of personal protective equipment has been associated with a reduction in the incidence. However, the incidence of occupational leptospirosis remains high, with significant burdens for affected families and healthcare system. For this article, a subset of thirteen participants from a nationwide leptospirosis case-control study (2019–2021) who were diagnosed with leptospirosis and worked with livestock at the time of illness were invited and agreed to a semi-structured interview. Interviewees reflected on their experiences as messages for medical professionals. The analysis of transcripts reveals widely shared experiences with infection, hospitalisation, and treatment, as well as long-term effects and recovery. Conclusions for medical professionals include that ill workers continue to have their diagnosis of leptospirosis delayed. This delay may contribute to more than half the people ill with leptospirosis hospitalised. Further, medical professionals' communication and relationship with ill people strongly colours the latter's experience, for good or for bad. Moreover, most interviewees experienced a recovery process that took several months of feeling tired, which undermined professional performance and emotional wellbeing.

Plain English summary The objective of this project was to develop recommendations and clinical considerations to guide clinicians in the management of people experiencing eating disorders who also have higher weight. A Guideline Development Group was formed containing members with academic and/or clinical expertise and people with a lived experience of eating disorder. The guideline was not only informed by reviews of the scientific literature but also clinical expertise and lived expertise. This guideline has undergone extensive review and consultation over an 18-month period involving reviews by key stakeholders, including experts and organisations with clinical, academic and/or lived expertise. The guideline outlines a set of recommendations for clinical practice including the strong recommendation for psychological treatment to be offered as the first treatment for an eating disorder in people who are of higher weight. Considerations in clinical practice including weight stigma, care by professionals from disparate disciplines, and cultural considerations are also discussed. The Guideline Development Group acknowledges a lack of available research evidence specific to people experiencing an eating disorder who are also of higher weight and consequently some recommendations relied on consensus of group members taking into account the expert reviews. The Group also identified areas where additional research is necessary such as research evaluating weigh-neutral and other more recent approached in the field.

Abstract Injecting fluids into deep underground geologic structures is a critical component to development of long-term strategies for managing greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating energy extraction operations. Recently, we reported that metal–organic frameworks are low-frequency, absorptive-acoustic metamaterial that may be injected into the subsurface to enhance geophysical monitoring tools used to track fluids and map complex structures. A key requirement for this nanotechnology deployment is transportability through porous geologic media without being retained by mineral-fluid interfaces. We used flow-through column studies to estimate transport and retention properties of five different polymer-coated MIL-101(Cr) nanoparticles (NP) in siliceous porous media. When negatively charged polystyrene sulfonate coated nanoparticles (NP-PSS-70K) were transported in 1 M NaCl, only about 8.4% of nanoparticles were retained in the column. Nanoparticles coated with polyethylenimine (NP-PD1) exhibited significant retention (> 50%), emphasizing the importance of complex nanoparticle-fluid-rock interactions for successful use of nanofluid technologies in the subsurface. Nanoparticle transport experiments revealed that nanoparticle surface characteristics play a critical role in nanoparticle colloidal stability and as well the transport.

BackgroundIn Aotearoa New Zealand, 90% of patients with notified leptospirosis (a zoonotic bacterial disease) have been men working in agricultural industries. However, since 2008, the epidemiology of notified cases has been gradually changing, that is, more women are affected; there are more cases associated with occupations traditionally not considered high risk in New Zealand; infecting serovars have changed; and many patients experience symptoms long after infection. We hypothesized that there is a shift in leptospirosis transmission patterns with substantial burden on affected patients and their families. ObjectiveIn this paper, we aimed to describe the protocols used to conduct a nationwide case-control study to update leptospirosis risk factors and follow-up studies to assess the burden and sources of leptospirosis in New Zealand. MethodsThis study used a mixed methods approach, comprising a case-control study and 4 substudies that involved cases only. Cases were recruited nationwide, and controls were frequency matched by sex and rurality. All participants were administered a case-control questionnaire (study 1), with cases being interviewed again at least 6 months after the initial survey (study 2). A subset of cases from two high-risk populations, that is, farmers and abattoir workers, were further engaged in a semistructured interview (study 3). Some cases with regular animal exposure had their in-contact animals (livestock for blood and urine and wildlife for kidney) and environment (soil, mud, and water) sampled (study 4). Patients from selected health clinics suspected of leptospirosis also had blood and urine samples collected (study 5). In studies 4 and 5, blood samples were tested using the microscopic agglutination test to test for antibody titers against Leptospira serovars Hardjo type bovis, Ballum, Tarassovi, Pomona, and Copenhageni. Blood, urine, and environmental samples were also tested for pathogenic Leptospira DNA using polymerase chain reaction. ResultsParticipants were recruited between July 22, 2019, and January 31, 2022, and data collection for the study has concluded. In total, 95 cases (July 25, 2019, to April 13, 2022) and 300 controls (October 19, 2019, to January 26, 2022) were interviewed for the case-control study; 91 cases participated in the follow-up interviews (July 9, 2020, to October 25, 2022); 13 cases participated in the semistructured interviews (January 26, 2021, to January 19, 2022); and 4 cases had their in-contact animals and environments sampled (October 28, 2020, and July 29, 2021). Data analysis for study 3 has concluded and 2 manuscripts have been drafted for review. Results of the other studies are being analyzed and the specific results of each study will be published as individual manuscripts.. ConclusionsThe methods used in this study may provide a basis for future epidemiological studies of infectious diseases. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/47900

Sustainable management of ever-increasing organic biowaste and arable soil contamination by potentially toxic elements are of concern from both environmental and agricultural perspectives. To tackle the waste issue of crawfish shells and simultaneously minimize the threat of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) to human health, a pot trial was conducted using chitin (CT), crawfish shell biochar (CSB), crawfish shell powder (CSP), and CT–CSB composite to compare their remediation efficiencies in As/Pb co-contaminated soil. Results demonstrated that addition of all amendments decreased Pb bioavailability, with the greatest effect observed for the CT–CSB treatment. Application of CSP and CSB increased the soil available As concentration, while significant decreases were observed in the CT and CT–CSB treatments. Meanwhile, CT addition was the most effective in enhancing the soil enzyme activities including acid phosphatase, α-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, and cellobiohydrolase, whereas CSB-containing treatments suppressed the activities of most enzymes. The amendments altered the bacterial abundance and composition in soil. For instance, compared to the control, all treatments increased Chitinophagaceae abundance by 2.6–4.7%. The relative abundance of Comamonadaceae decreased by 1.6% in the CSB treatment, while 2.1% increase of Comamonadaceae was noted in the CT–CSB treatment. Redundancy and correlation analyses (at the family level) indicated that the changes in bacterial community structure were linked to bulk density, water content, and As/Pb availability of soils. Partial least squares path modeling further indicated that soil chemical property (i.e., pH, dissolved organic carbon, and cation exchange capacity) was the strongest predictor of As/Pb availability in soils following amendment application. Overall, CT–CSB could be a potentially effective amendment for simultaneously immobilizing As and Pb and restoring soil ecological functions in contaminated arable soils.

With the advancements in broad-spectrum sunscreens and the recent bans on benzene-based sunscreens due to their environmental toxicity, there has been a push toward broad-spectrum sunscreens containing in organic active ingredients. In this study, a procedure was developed to analyze the particle size and size distribution of inorganic active ingredients, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and/or zinc oxide(ZnO), of sunscreens with sun protection factor (SPF) values ranging from 15 to 50 using dynamic light scattering (DLS). These inorganic components are often engineered as nanoparticles in order to reduce visibility on the skin and retain UV scattering. Research suggests that the use of smaller nanoparticles to increase the efficacy of the inorganic filters may also be toxic to humans if it becomes permeable to the skin. This methodology allowed undergraduate students to workhands-on with particle sizing and compare sunscreen samples to nanopowder and dispersion standards using the effect of the hydrodynamic diameter. Students found that, due to agglomeration, the particle sizes for the nanopowder standards could exceed the manufacture's labeled size when dispersed in solution, which they then compared with their sunscreen data. The results also showed that some sunscreens had two distinct layers at the end of sample preparation, which could be correlated to the matrix components within the sunscreens. This study is intended for undergraduate analytical students and can be altered using the potential variations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to create a more challenging upper-level lab and allow for instrumentation comparisons.

Highlights A comprehensive review of technology has been undertaken from biochar-based nitrogen fertilizers (BBNFs). Kinetics and mechanisms of the slow-release of N from BBNFs are revealed. BBNFs enhanced soil properties, N retention in soil and crop yield, and improved N use efficiency.

When cross-examining witnesses, lawyers will sometimes use complex questions to "trip-up" witnesses and thus cast doubt on their testimony. Extending prior research, the present study showed that multifaceted test questions (which contain both a true and false proposition) reduced accuracy for both misled and control participants but had a disproportionate impact on the former. Although misled participants accurately rejected blatant suggestions when tested with simple questions, there was a two-fold increase in false assents when multifaceted questions were used (Experiment 1). Providing participants with explicit instructions on how to respond to multifaceted questions (i.e., respond "yes" only if all parts of the question are true) improved accuracy slightly but did not mitigate the magnitude of the misinformation effect (Experiment 2). Collectively, the results underscore the importance of assessing eyewitness suggestibility in contexts that mimic those witnesses are likely to encounter in the real world.

The present contribution presents the results of the eponymous research project, which focuses on the understanding of the genesis and structure of the Swiss sports field between the 1860s and the 1930s. During this period, national umbrella organisations for all physical activities and sports developed. Within the framework of this project, which focuses on several sports (gymnastics, shooting, national games, football and cycling, with the addition of skiing on the basis of related doctoral work), we will present our main results, in particular on the organisations in charge of the governance of the sports identified as central, in order to shed light on the struggles but also on the links that were to be forged between them, as well as to question the recruitment, the profiles and the motivations of their leading elites. Based on the collection and analysis of unpublished documentation, especially prosopographical, this project brings to light a double original process to which the space of physical and sports activities is subjected: on the one hand, that of sportivisation, on the other hand, that of nationalisation. In the framework of this contribution, we will present a selection of emblematic cases of presidents of Swiss sports federations, at the time of the Fin-de-Siècle and up to the interwar period, o compare the different traditions existing in the studied sports and to underline the processes leading to the status of “national sports”.