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Abstract Epidemic of Cashew Fusarium wilt disease (CFWD) has been a continuous focal challenge in the cashew farming, in Tanzania. Limited to edaphic conditions as a major factor in its epidemic, the current study aimed to assess the habitat-disease relationship. Purposive surveys involving assessment of disease prevalence and habitat compositions were conducted across four landscapes of southeastern zone from 2019 to 2023. Findings revealed a widespread of CFWD across diversified landscapes possessing varying habitat characteristics, mainly cultivated land with mature cashew, brownish sand loamy soils, grassland or shrub vegetation, seasonal river streamlines and natural water wells. The highest disease incidence and severity were noted at Nachingwea/Masasi plain (99.28:88.34%) followed by Liwale inland plain (98.64:89.3%), Coastal zone (72.72:59.83%) and Tunduru dissected plain (62.13:54.54%). The habitat characteristics were strongly similar within the landscape (0.86-Jaccard index) except between villages of the coastal zone (0.71-Jaccard index). Across landscapes, Nachingwea/Masasi plains and the Coastal zone were strongly similar to Tunduru dissected plain (0.63—1.0-Jaccard index), but strongly dissimilar with the Liwale inland plain (0.67—0.70- Jaccard distance). Furthermore, the presence of greater than 0.5 suitability indices across landscapes were revealed, with Liwale inland plain having strongest suitability index of 0.743 followed by Coastal zone (0.681), Tunduru dissected plain (0.617) and Nachingwea/Masasi plain. Significantly, the habitats had an increase of 0.1 suitability index, and positively correlated with disease prevalence by triggering disease incidence of 13.9% and severity of 31.4%. The study for the first time revealed the presence of an association between disease prevalence and landscape habitat characteristics of southeastern, Tanzania; paving the way to inclusive thinking of habitat as one of the drivers in the prevalence of fusarium wilt disease of cashews. Further research on the genetic coevolution of Fusarium oxysporum across landscapes to strengthen disease risk management in the cashew industry is recommended.

This paper proposes a low-cost electronic system for estimating ground reaction forces (GRF) during human gait. The device consists of one master node and two slave nodes. The master node sends instructions to slave nodes that sample and store data from two force insoles located at the participant’s feet. These insoles are equipped with 14 piezo-resistive FlexiForce A301 sensors (FSR). The slave nodes are attached to the ankles and feet of each participant. Subsequently, the start command is transmitted through the master node, which is connected to the USB port of a personal computer (PC). Once the walking session is completed, the information obtained by the slave nodes can be downloaded by accessing the access point generated by these devices through Wi-Fi communication. The GRF estimation system was validated with force platforms (BTS Bioengineering P6000, Italy), giving on average a fit measure equal to 68.71%±4.80% in dynamic situations. Future versions of this device are expected to increase this fit by using machine learning models.

Weeds are among the limiting factors that influence low production of economically important crops including cashew (Anacardium occidental L.). Shrub weeds attribute to inter-competition for resources, hinder harvesting and ultimately reduce cashew yields in Tanzania. The current study determined the distribution, characteristics and chemical control option of Dichapetalum Engl in Lindi and Mtwara regions, Southeastern Tanzania. The distribution study involved a survey for weed presence along the areas of Lindi and Mtwara regions. The characterization included distilling, and assessing the growth and development properties of shrub weed. Chemical herbicides; glyphosate 480g. ai/l, 2, 4 D - Dichlorirophenoxyacetic 720g. ai/l, triclopyr 160g a.i./l and 1:1 mixture of glyphosate 480g a.i./l plus triclopyr 160g a.i./L at 15, 20 and 25 mls of formulated product/L of water per 4 m2 were tested on tender, mature and blooming growth stages of D. Stuhlmannii and three spraying frequencies. Findings revealed that the D.stuhlmannii, is a widely distributed shrub weed in Lindi and Mtwara regions. The weed was characterized with three main growth stages of seedling, mature and blooming with a long tap root and evergreen throughout the wet and dry seasons. The tested herbicides revealed the potential suppression of D. Stuhlmannii growth. Glyphosate and a mixture of glyphosate + triclopyr at 15 ml/L outperformed triclopyr and 2, 4 D across all the growth stages. Double spraying of glyphosate and its mixture bettered frequencies of triclopyr and 2, 4 D. The delayed regrowth of suppressed shrub weed took 90–120 days after application of herbicides. The current study recommends for single or double applications of glyphosate herbicides at 15 ml/L or 10,700 ml/ha on tender or mature D. Stuhlmannii in cashew farms. Further studies on the economic feasibility and effect on the microbiota of applied fungicides are required.

The unique diffraction geometry of ESRF beamline ID06-LVP offers continuous static 2D or azimuthally resolving data collections over all accessible solid angles available to the tooling geometry. The system is built around a rotating custom-built Pilatus3 CdTe 900k-W detector from Dectris, in a configuration equivalent to three butted 300k devices. As a non-standard geometry, here the method of alignment, correction and subsequent integration for any data collected over all solid angles accessible, or over any azimuthal range contained therein, are provided and illustrated by parameterizing and extending existing pyFAI routines. At 1° integrated intervals, and typical distances (2.0 m), the system covers an area of near 2.5 m2 (100 Mpx square equivalent), to 0.65 Å resolution, at 53 keV from a total dataset of some 312 Mpx. Standard FWHMs of SRM660a LaB6 vary from 0.005° to 0.01°, depending on beam size, energy and sample dimensions, and are sampled at an elevated rate. The azimuthal range per static frame ranges from

Because their resistant, sporopolleninous walls preserve a record of morphogenetic change during spore formation, fossil cryptospores provide a direct physical record of the evolution of sporogenesis during the algal–plant transition. That transition itself is a story of the evolution of development—it is not about phylogeny. Here, we review the fossil record of terrestrially derived spore/cryptospore assemblages and attempt to place these microfossils in their evolutionary context with respect to the origin of complex multicellularity in plants. Cambrian cryptospores show features related to karyokinesis seen in extant charophytes, but they also possess ultrastructure similar to that seen in liverworts today. Dyadospora, a cryptospore dyad recovered from sporangia of Devonian embryophytes, first occurs in the earliest Ordovician. Tetrahedraletes, a likely precursor to the trilete spore, first occurs in the Middle Ordovician. These fossils correspond to evolutionary novelties that were acquired during a period of genome assembly prior to the existence of upright, axial sporophytes. The cryptospore/spore fossil record provides a temporal scaffold for the acquisition of novel characters relating to the evolution of plant sporogenesis during the Cambrian–Silurian interval.

Professional development of scientists is enhanced by training students in responsible conduct of research earlier in their careers. One aspect of responsible conduct of research is authorship ethics, which concerns granting of credit to those who make intellectual contributions to the research. The activity discussed in this article emphasizes how authorship ethics can be integrated with Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) and includes an adaption that could also be used for independent research students. The activity allows students to reflect upon inequalities and problems seen in scientific authorship, including gender bias, failure to credit effort (ghostwriters), and inclusion of authors that did not meaningfully contribute to the work (honorary/gift authorship). Themes seen in student reflections on how they could demonstrate ethics in authorship included: determining authorship by contribution, appropriate attributions on curriculum vitas (CV) and posters, different credit levels, understanding authorship criteria, and tracking contributions. Themes seen in student reflections on the importance of authorship were proper authorship credit distribution, authorship impacting career opportunities, and accountability in research. In the activity, students also created attributions for a poster to be presented from their research. We found that most students were able to create attributions that were correctly formatted, included the same authors, and positioned authors in the same order as other group members, matching what was presented on the finalized poster. We found that students' reflection on authorship and this professionalization of their activities in their CURE led to modest increases in their view of themselves as scientists.

Hydrogenation reactions at gigapascal pressures can yield hydrogen-rich materials with properties relating to superconductivity, ion conductivity, and hydrogen storage. Here, we investigated the ternary Na–Si–H system by computational structure prediction and in situ synchrotron diffraction studies of reaction mixtures NaH–Si–H2 at 5–10 GPa. Structure prediction indicated the existence of various hypervalent hydridosilicate phases with compositions NamSiH(4+m) (m = 1–3) at comparatively low pressures, 0–20 GPa. These ternary Na–Si–H phases share, as a common structural feature, octahedral SiH62− complexes which are condensed into chains for m = 1 and occur as isolated species for m = 2, 3. In situ studies demonstrated the formation of the double salt Na3[SiH6]H (Na3SiH7, m = 3) containing both octahedral SiH62− moieties and hydridic H−. Upon formation at elevated temperatures (>500°C), Na3SiH7 attains a tetragonal structure (P4/mbm, Z = 2) which, during cooling, transforms to an orthorhombic polymorph (Pbam, Z = 4). Upon decompression, Pbam-Na3SiH7 was retained to approx. 4.5 GPa, below which a further transition into a yet unknown polymorph occurred. Na3SiH7 is a new representative of yet elusive hydridosilicate compounds. Its double salt nature and polymorphism are strongly reminiscent of fluorosilicates and germanates.

The study aimed to investigate how the solvent extract of Buchholzia coriacea (BCE), a widely known hypolipidemic agent, could contribute to hyperlipidemia treatment and identify the potential bioactive compounds. We studied Wistar albino rats, dividing them into seven groups: the normal control, normal rats treated with 400 mg/kg.b.wt of BCE (NRG group), the hyperlipidemic control (HPC group), hyperlipidemic rats treated with atorvastatin, a standard control drug (SC group), as well as 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg.b.wt of BCE extract respectively (T1, T2, T3 groups). The potential compounds that functioned in BCE extract were analyzed by in silico binding to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FASN). The binding affinities and drug-like properties of the compounds were determined using virtual screening and absorption distribution metabolism excretion and toxicity prediction analysis. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and 44 chemical compounds in the leaf extract of BCE. BCE significantly reduced the levels of triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic index, and coronary risk index, while enhancing the levels of high-density lipoprotein and cardioprotective index in comparison to the HPC group. The BCE reduced malondialdehyde quantities, which exhibit high levels in HPC. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities as well as glutathione levels, which are otherwise reduced in HPC, were increased upon the BCE treatment. Among the identified BCE compounds, lupenone and 2,7-dimethylnaphthalene exhibited the highest binding affinities to ACC and FASN, suggesting that these two compounds might be the bioactive BCE components displaying hypolipidemic properties. BCE is found to be beneficial in blocking hyperlipidemia through the modulation of lipid profile, the protection of cardiovascular function, as well as the suppression of oxidative stress. BCE may be a natural source for exploring novel drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia.

Background: Weeds are important biotic agents that have a big impact on plant yields and growth. In southern Tanzania, the timing and effects of weeding were studied in relation to cashew flushing and flowering. Methods: For the study, three cashew development centers (CDC) were chosen. Herbicides, manual hoeing (tillage), slashing, and scratching were the four weeding methods allocated. Two clones (AC4 and AZA17) of cashew trees that were 10 years old were treated. Phase 1 (after harvest), Phase 2 (during the rainy season), and Phase 3 (before to flushing of the cashew flowers) are the three distinct weeding phases. Results: Compared to other approaches, hand hoeing (field tillage) significantly (p 0.05). Compared to other techniques, hand hoeing required a lot of time. Conclusion: It is often advised to weed through soil opening during wet seasons because it improves and hastens the occurrence of the factors that determine cashew yields (flushing and blooming). However, additional research is advised on the role that timely weeding and weeding techniques have in improving cashew yields along different cashew tree ages in southern Tanzania.

Background: Male partner involvement is critical to maternal and child health outcomes. In Kenya, male partners are entitled to a two-week paternal leave with full pay to encourage male partner support in antenatal and postpartum care services, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and health education. However, the involvement of males in maternal and child health remains inadequate. This could be attributed to several factors. Consequently, this study investigated perceptions of men on male partner involvement in maternal and child health in Kuria East Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya Methods: This study used a mixed-method and descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews were used to collect data. Two hundred and ninety-six respondents completed the questionnaire, six key informants took part in interviews, and fourteen participated in focus group discussions to investigate the perceptions of men on their involvement in maternal and child health. Results: Men’s perceptions of male partners’ involvement in maternal and child health vary. At the community level, there is a negative perception of male partners’ involvement in maternal and child health. The community perceives maternal and childcare as a female’s role. On the other hand, individual males generally have a positive view of male partners’ involvement in maternal and child health. However, the study reveals that the age does not determine the perceptions of males on male partner involvement both at community and individual level whereas educational attainment and occupation have significant associations with the perceptions of males on male partner involvement in MCH. Conclusion: The study concludes that men’s perception of male partners’ involvement in maternal and child health varies. At the community level, there is a negative perception of male partners’ involvement in maternal and child health. On the other hand, individual males generally have a positive view of male partners’ involvement in maternal and child health.

Sports and Physical Education (SPE), like any other discipline, contributes to students' education. These students, for a good acquisition of teaching content, should be invited to take notes of the theoretical and technological knowledge conveyed by Physical and Sport Activities (PSA), subject of teaching. This quantitative and qualitative study aims to identify the usefulness of the implementation of theoretical knowledge and note-taking of the information taught in the training of students in Physical Education classes at the secondary school level. To achieve this objective, certain key concepts from "The Anthropological Theory of Didactics" by Chevallard were employed. In accordance with this theoretical framework, a methodological approach was adopted that focuses on administering questionnaires to students in the second cycle. These students meet the criterion of regular attendance at physical education courses in two secondary colleges. This approach includes recording three sessions of physical education courses and conducting interviews with each teacher at the course's conclusion. The results indicated that the students do not have a favorable relationship with the theoretical knowledge transmitted in PE during the practice of the different Physical and Sports Activities (PSA). This is due to the fact that the teacher does not focus the student's attention on what he or she has really learned and what he must retain in order to facilitate the practice of the different Physical and Sports Activities. To summarize, the essential finding derived from this study was that students in PE would greatly benefit from an introduction of theoretical courses combined with written documentation of the pedagogical information provided. The integration of both elements could foster the development of citizens who are proficient both physically and intellectually.

There are many rewards associated with teaching in public schools, but there are also several challenges such as understaffing, limited resources, overcrowded classrooms, and underpaid employees. All of these issues combined often lead to burnout and mental health concerns among public school teachers, particularly those in urban settings. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, literature regarding teachers' psychological distress has increased in a general sense; however, there remains limited exploration of a potential increase in job-related mental health concerns of urban teachers after the onset of COVID. Therefore, in this study we compare the 2018 (pre-COVID) and 2020 (early-COVID) results of the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey in order to answer whether there has been a change in the psychological distress of urban school teachers in North Carolina since the onset of COVID. Based on the findings, we offer recommendations to key stakeholders in an effort to better support the health and outcomes of K-12 urban school teachers as they continue adapting to the ever-expanding and ever-evolving implications of COVID.

Laser engraving is a convenient, fast, one-step, and environmentally friendly technique used to produce more conductive surfaces by local pyrolysis. The laser’s thermal treatment can also remove non-conductive materials from the electrode surfaces and improve electrochemical performance. The improvement was assessed by electrochemical tools such as cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− and dopamine as redox probes. The electrochemical results observed showed that a treated surface showed an improvement in electron transfer and less resistance to charge transfer. To optimize the electrode performance, it was necessary to search for the most favorable graphite mines and optimize the parameters of the laser machine (laser power, scan rate, and output distance). The resultant material was adequately characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where an irregular surface composed of crystalline graphite particles was noticed. Furthermore, as a proof-of-concept, it was applied to detect indapamide (IND) in synthetic urine by flow injection analysis (FIA), a diuretic drug often used by athletes to alter urine composition to hide forbidden substance consumption in doping tests.

Abstract Background The BDDQ-AS (Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire—Aesthetic Surgery) is a simple and reliable patient-reported outcome measure. It can be used as a screening tool for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in patients undergoing aesthetic rhinoplasty. The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Mandarin version of the BDDQ-AS (M-BDDQ-AS) and evaluate its selected psychometric validation in patients after rhinoplasty. Method According to international guidelines, the BDDQ-AS questionnaire was translated from English to Mandarin. Twenty Mandarin-speaking rhinoplasty patients were interviewed in order to evaluate the understandability and acceptability of the translation and produce a final version. It was then administered to 137 patients with a mean age of 38.75 ± 6.24 years. Psychometric validation were evaluated using reliability (internal consistency, test–retest reliability) and item-reponse theory (IRT) test. Result High internal consistency of 0.823 was found using Cronbach’s α coefficient. Reliability of the M-BDDQ-AS resulted in Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.863. Besides, based on IRT analysis, the discrimination abilities of all the items were good (over 2.0), and their difficulty estimates were reasonable. Conclusion The M-BDDQ-AS is a reliable and valid self-reported questionnaire that can be used in rhinoplasty patients. The very good psychometric validation of the M-BDDQ-AS indicates that it can be used in clinical practice and scientific research. Graphical Abstract

Background & Aims: Recently, novel inborn errors of metabolism were identified because of mutations in V-ATPase assembly factors TMEM199 and CCDC115. Patients are characterized by generalized protein glycosylation defects, hypercholesterolemia, and fatty liver disease. Here, we set out to characterize the lipid and fatty liver phenotype in human plasma, cell models, and a mouse model. Methods and Results: Patients with TMEM199 and CCDC115 mutations displayed hyperlipidemia, characterized by increased levels of lipoproteins in the very low density lipoprotein range. HepG2 hepatoma cells, in which the expression of TMEM199 and CCDC115 was silenced, and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocyte-like cells from patients with TMEM199 mutations showed markedly increased secretion of apolipoprotein B (apoB) compared with controls. A mouse model for TMEM199 deficiency with a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in of the human A7E mutation had marked hepatic steatosis on chow diet. Plasma N-glycans were hypogalactosylated, consistent with the patient phenotype, but no clear plasma lipid abnormalities were observed in the mouse model. In the siTMEM199 and siCCDC115 HepG2 hepatocyte models, increased numbers and size of lipid droplets were observed, including abnormally large lipid droplets, which colocalized with lysosomes. Excessive de novo lipogenesis, failing oxidative capacity, and elevated lipid uptake were not observed. Further investigation of lysosomal function revealed impaired acidification combined with impaired autophagic capacity. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the hypercholesterolemia in TMEM199 and CCDC115 deficiency is due to increased secretion of apoB-containing particles. This may in turn be secondary to the hepatic steatosis observed in these patients as well as in the mouse model. Mechanistically, we observed impaired lysosomal function characterized by reduced acidification, autophagy, and increased lysosomal lipid accumulation. These findings could explain the hepatic steatosis seen in patients and highlight the importance of lipophagy in fatty liver disease. Because this pathway remains understudied and its regulation is largely untargeted, further exploration of this pathway may offer novel strategies for therapeutic interventions to reduce lipotoxicity in fatty liver disease.

Effective management of reservoir sedimentation requires models that can predict sedimentation of the reservoirs. In this study, linear regression, non-linear exponential regression and artificial neural network models have been developed for the forecasting of annual storage capacity loss of reservoirs in the Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone (GSEZ) of Ghana. Annual rainfall, inflows, trap efficiency and reservoir age were input parameters for the models whilst the output parameter was the annual sediment volume in the reservoirs. Twenty (20) years of reservoirs data with 70% data used for model training and 30% used for validation. The ANN model, the feed-forward, back-propagation algorithm Multi-Layer Perceptron model structure which best captured the pattern in the annual sediment volumes retained in the reservoirs ranged from 4-6-1 at Karni to 4-12-1 at Tono. The linear and nonlinear exponential regression models revealed that annual sediment volume retention increased with all four (4) input parameters whilst the rate of sedimentation in the reservoirs is a decreasing function of time. All the three (3) models developed were noted to be efficient and suitable for forecasting annual sedimentation of the studied reservoirs with accuracies above 76%. Forecasted sedimentation up to year 2038 (2019–2038) using the developed models revealed the total storage capacities of the reservoirs to be lost ranged from 13.83 to 50.07%, with 50% of the small and medium reservoirs filled with sediment deposits if no sedimentation control measures are taken to curb the phenomenon. HIGHLIGHTS The study developed two mathematical models using linear regression.; The study developed non-linear exponential regression.; The study developed an artificial neural network (ANN) model.; The study forecasted sedimentation up to year 2038 using the developed models.; The study revealed that the total storage capacities of the reservoirs to be lost ranged from 13.83 to 50.07%.;

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis is a multifactorial disease whose pathogenesis, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, is still unclear. Previous genetic studies have shown that patients with chronic rhinosinusitis have reduced expression of the Interleukin-22 (IL-22) gene. Objective: Identify and compare the frequency of polymorphisms in the IL22RA1 gene (IL22 alpha-1 subunit receptor) among chronic rhinosinusitis patients – either with or without nasal polyps. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 70 chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps patients, 14 chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps patients and 68 subjects without chronic rhinosinusitis, followed by DNA extraction and IL22RA1 gene sequence analysis. Results: Among ten polymorphisms identified in the IL22RA1 gene, three were not found in any of the genetic databases analyzed. Chronic rhinosinusitis patients displayed higher frequency of the c.113_114insA frameshift insertion, possibly pathogenic. Conversely, in the control group, polymorphism c.435A > C had a significant predominance of the mutated allele, perhaps related to a potential protection against the chronic rhinosinusitis phenotype. Polymorphism c.770C > T, characterized as a non-synonymous variant, was exclusively found in Black chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps patients. Conclusions: Although no direct causal relationship could be established between IL22RA1 gene polymorphisms and the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis, genetic variations such as c.113_114insA and c.435A > C may be involved in the susceptibility to or protection against the chronic rhinosinusitis phenotype, respectively. Testing this hypothesis will require studies with larger cohorts.

Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive innovative technology that can be used with occupational therapy students for bias training in preparation for fieldwork and clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of VR as a complementary educational tool in bias and microaggressions (MA) training for entry-level occupational therapy students. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected in an 8-week course on diversity, equity, inclusion, and professional skills with a total of 48 first-year entry-level occupational therapy students. We used eight simulated VR cases for all students. Data was collected using a mixed-method survey to capture the students' experiences with VR. The results showed that the majority of students found the VR module helpful in identifying bias and MA (n=47; 97.92%), enhancing their confidence to report bias and MA (n=48; 100%), offering opportunities to respond to bias and MA (n=39; 81.25%), and articulating why certain behaviors can be perceived as MA (n=45; 93.75%). Thematic analysis of qualitative data showed that the VR enhanced students' ability to detect bias and MA, and increased the sense of empathy, and ability to be an ally or advocate for targets of bias. The findings indicate that VR is an immersive, engaging technology that can be used for bias and MA training for students and potentially clinicians. It offers a private, inclusive, pressure-reduced learning space for students to learn about bias and MA in preparation for fieldwork education and clinical practice.

Learner-Centered Teaching (LCT), as opposed to teacher-centered practices, actively engages students in the learning process. In this paper, we discuss the importance of adopting LCT strategies in family science courses to improve student learning outcomes. Family science is particularly apt for LCT because of the interpersonal focus of the discipline. To help fill an important gap in the literature, seven LCT strategies are articulated within the specific context of family science. We highlight the following seven approaches: small group activities, questioning, think-pair-share discussions, gaming, in-class writing, low-stakes quizzes, and flipped classroom design. In addition to describing the approaches, we discuss class size, adapting the techniques for online courses, and working with students who require accommodations. Finally, we share evaluation data from students that speaks to four of the seven LCT strategies. Our hope is that this paper will offer ready-made ideas that family science instructors may adopt. To conclude, we discuss implications, challenges in implementing LCT, and areas of future research.

This paper focuses on the experiences of ten women in Canada with refugee backgrounds from the Horn of Africa as they helped their adolescent children (ages 12-18) navigate the challenges of at-home online learning during the global COVID-19 pandemic. We situate our analysis within specific aspects of Yosso's (2005) Community Cultural Wealth framework to demonstrate that, while the women's efforts were hampered by online learning technologies, they were able to harness aspirational and familial capital to keep their children engaged in schoolwork. The women felt deeply involved in their children's education, particularly in terms of following up on children's homework, monitoring their activities, and providing guidance.

Universities across the globe are considering how to effect meaningful change in their higher education (HE) delivery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting student learning preferences. This paper reports on a descriptive case- study of whole-of-institution curriculum reform at one regional Australian university, where more traditional 13-week semesters have been replaced with a 6-week immersive block model known as the Southern Cross Model. Based on a synthesis of literature in best practice HE pedagogy and principles, the case study draws on both a review of policy and staff interviews (N = 5) to outline the key changes necessary for successful HE transformation. Analysis revealed themes related to the vital roles of leadership, capacity building, monitoring the transition, staff adoption, and adequate technical systems in implementing a radical, multifaceted institutional transformation. Implications for practice at institutions considering reforming their curriculum model are also discussed. The findings from this case study indicate that an institutional transformation to an immersive block model requires both a considered change in institutional policy and process, as well as the appropriate resourcing of roles, governance committees, technical solutions, and, importantly, communities of practice.

Despite growing interest in immersive block models in higher education, very little is known about the experiences of international students in these non-traditional forms of learning. To enable an initial view of how international students perceive and perform in an immersive block model, we used an exploratory mixed methods approach to examine the academic success, satisfaction, and experiences of international students in a 6-week immersive block model at a regional public Australian university. Inferential statistical tests were used to explore the success rates and unit and teaching satisfaction of onshore and offshore international students in the immersive block model and in the traditional trimester model. Overall, the immersive block model made a significant positive difference to the academic success of international students, both onshore and offshore. However, a decline in satisfaction was observed among science and engineering students, contrasting with an increase in satisfaction among business and arts students. Data collected through semi-guided interviews with 10 students from this latter group indicate several key benefits and challenges associated with immersive block learning. Students reported heightened focus and motivation, supportive teaching, and a healthy study-work-life balance. Challenges included not knowing what to expect, forming social connections with classmates, and the fast turnover between assessments. These findings indicate that it is important for institutions to prepare international students well for the pace and time management demands of studying in an immersive block model and to encourage the formation of social connections. Assessment timing, volume, and scaffolding should also be key considerations in immersive block model curriculum design.

Engineering is fundamentally about design, yet many undergraduate programs offer limited opportunities for students to learn to design. This design case reports on a grant-funded effort to revolutionize how chemical engineering is taught. Prior to this effort, our chemical engineering program was like many, offering core courses primarily taught through lectures and problem sets. While some faculty referenced examples, students had few opportunities to construct and apply what they were learning. Spearheaded by a team that included the department chair, a learning scientist, a teaching-intensive faculty member, and faculty heavily engaged with the undergraduate program, we developed and implemented design challenges in core chemical engineering courses. We began by co-designing with students and faculty, initially focusing on the first two chemical engineering courses students take. We then developed templates and strategies that supported other faculty-student teams to expand the approach into more courses. Across seven years of data collection and iterative refinements, we developed a framework that offers guidance as we continue to support new faculty in threading design challenges through core content-focused courses. We share insights from our process that supported us in navigating through challenging questions and concerns.

We examined academic advisors' clinically significant symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), including whether there are statistically significant relationships between advisors' demographic characteristics, work-related variables, institutional variables, burnout, resilience, and risk of clinically significant MDD/GAD symptoms. We analyzed survey data of academic advisors collected from February to March 2023 (n = 777) and found that 16.9% of advisors met the criteria for MDD while 29.6% met the criteria for GAD, rates higher than national averages. While there were some demographic differences, advisors who experienced higher rates of burnout had increased odds of experiencing MDD and GAD symptoms. In addition, advisors' resilience was associated with decreased odds of experiencing MDD and GAD symptoms.

With the advent of readily accessible generative artificial intelligence (GAI), a concern exists within the academic community that research data collected in the context of conducting doctoral dissertation research is authentic. The purpose of the present study was to explore the role of GAI in the production of new research paying particular attention to the use of GAI in collecting new data for a doctoral dissertation. This study employed qualitative methodology examining how GAI, specifically ChatGPT, responded to interview questions from a previously published article by the researchers to determine how closely chatbots mimic responses from the actual study participants. The researchers found that data integrity in qualitative research may be at risk if higher education institutions do not set clear policies and specific parameters for how doctoral research data is obtained and validated in light of GAI.

The staffing and outsourcing of the marginalised curriculum area Health and Physical Education (HPE) has been an area of growing concern, alongside rising concerns for the decline of students' health due to increased sedentary behaviour and mental health problems, yet there has been little research attention to the staffing and delivery of HPE in Australian schools. This article addresses that gap in understanding with analysis of data from a larger study examining positioning and implementation of HPE in schools. A mixed methods questionnaire was completed by 30% of government schools in New South Wales (n = 556) providing data on staffing, delivery and outsourcing arrangements. Findings suggested that specialist HPE teachers are not in-charge of teaching HPE; and the majority (67%) of schools outsource at least some HPE, with far-reaching impacts on curriculum coverage and student exclusion from lessons evident. Findings also suggested that students experience varied methods of delivery in Physical Education (PE), and Health Education (HE) lessons. Together, these findings raise questions regarding the assurance of quality and equity, with implications for future policy and practice and the health and wellbeing of school children.

Little is known about the nature of social anxiety in autistic people: What is similar and different about factors contributing to social anxiety in autistic and non-autistic people? There is also very limited research about autistic people's experiences of therapy for social anxiety in current routine clinical practice. This study investigated these issues by analysing responses to an online questionnaire for 308 adults with elevated social anxiety (232 autistic people and 76 non-autistic people) using mixed-methods approaches. Distinct factors influenced social anxiety in autistic participants, including individual and environmental factors relating to autistic experiences in the social world. We propose a 'distinct' model of social anxiety in autism. In addition, many participants had not had helpful experiences in therapy, especially cognitive behaviour therapy, for social anxiety: They thought therapists did not always acknowledge the basis of their social fears, did not adapt the therapy process in an individualised way and did not understand neurodiversity or recognise neurodivergence. Our results suggest that social anxiety needs to be understood specifically in the context of autism, and if this is neglected, therapy is unlikely to be helpful. Based on participants' comments, this article makes some practical recommendations for therapists supporting autistic adults with social anxiety.

This paper reports the findings of a critical qualitative study on trauma-informed teaching of English as a second language (ESL) at Australian universities. Post-traumatic stress affects verbal learning, yet most ESL teachers do not receive training in trauma-informed teaching. The field has suffered from a dearth of empirical studies and absence of student voice. This study used a validated tool to measure the post-traumatic stress of 39 participants, including international students and former refugees. Twenty of these completed semi-structured interviews about the ESL learning environment, based on a framework of trauma-informed principles. Data were analysed using critical, qualitative methods through a trauma-informed lens. A major theme in the findings was the importance of ESL teachers' understanding of students. Within this theme, four sub-themes are explored: personal engagement and attention, acceptance and understanding of the learner role, understanding the lives of students outside the classroom and an understanding of students' cultures.

Anxiety is commonly experienced by autistic people and impacts on quality of life and social participation. New anxiety interventions are required to effectively meet the needs of autistic people. Personalised Anxiety Treatment-Autism (PAT-A©) is a bespoke, modular approach to treating anxiety in up to 12 sessions. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of delivering PAT-A© in the UK National Health Service (NHS). A single-blind randomised controlled trial design. Thirty-four autistic adults were recruited via clinical services and randomised to receive either PAT-A© or enhanced treatment as usual (CCSP). Outcome assessments relating to anxiety, quality of life and related constructs were completed at baseline, immediately post intervention; and at 3 and 12 months. Seventy-one percent of the PAT-A© group and 65% of the CCSP met diagnostic threshold for at least three anxiety disorders. Retention was good across both groups, with 82% (N = 14/17) completing the full course of PAT-A© and 71% (N = 12/17) attending both psychoeducational sessions in CCSP. 94% in PAT-A© and 82% in CCSP completed some follow up assessment 3 months post-intervention. Thematic analysis of interview data revealed that many participants valued the personalised approach, developed transferable skills and experienced positive changes to their anxiety. Participants were willing to be recruited and randomised, PAT-A© was feasible to deliver in the NHS and the trial methods and materials were acceptable. Our findings indicate that a fully powered clinical and cost-effectiveness trial of PAT-A© is warranted.

Cost-effective and user-friendly, mobile phone-assisted methods have remained underutilized in qualitative social science research. The scarce methodological guidance, together with recruitment and ethical challenges, has arguably stifled advancements in this area. COVID-19 exposed the need to better equip researchers with the expertise and tools to conduct remote research effectively. In 2020, we designed and launched a smartphone survey application to collect real-time data from children's sector professionals across the globe regarding best practices in, and challenges to, responding to the pandemic. In this short article, we reflect on the efficiency, quality, and acceptability afforded by the smartphone app survey, and outline recommendations for enhancing rigor and feasibility. We also present data snippets illustrating the positive impact of participation on respondents--a seldom-documented aspect of app-based research. Altogether, we advocate a flexible, pragmatic, and user-centered study and app design that aligns with respondents' specific, situational needs, and preferences.

Background: Undergraduate engineering students experiencing distress are less likely than peers to ask for professional help. A population-specific instrument to facilitate the identification of factors that influence mental healthcare utilization could guide development and testing of interventions to increase help seeking. Purpose: We used mixed methods guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to develop and evaluate the Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help-Seeking Instrument (UE-MH-HSI). Method: First, we adapted existing measures of mental health help-seeking intention and mechanisms (i.e., attitudes, perceived norm: injunctive, perceived norm: descriptive, personal agency: autonomy, personal agency: capacity). Second, we coded qualitative interviews (N = 33) to create population-specific mental health help-seeking belief measures (i.e., outcome beliefs, experiential beliefs, beliefs about others' expectations, beliefs about others' behavior, beliefs about barriers and facilitators). Third, we tested the psychometric properties using data from 596 undergraduate engineering students at a historically White, research-focused institution in southern United States. Results: Psychometric analyses indicated that (1) help-seeking mechanism and intention measures demonstrated unidimensionality, internal consistency, construct replicability, and sufficient variability; (2) mechanism measures demonstrated criterion evidence of validity; and (3) most items within the belief measures demonstrated sufficient variability and convergent evidence of validity. Conclusions: The UE-MH-HSI is an evidence-based tool for investigating mental health help-seeking factors and their relationship to help-seeking behavior, well-being, academic success, and engineering identity formation. Guidelines for use are provided.

Purpose: Cognitive behaviour therapy based on the Clark and Wells (1995) model is a first-line treatment for neurotypical people seeking support for social anxiety. While autistic people frequently report high social anxiety, it is unclear how appropriate the model is for this population. Methods: Over 300 autistic and non-autistic adults completed an online survey measuring key variables of the Clark and Wells model (socially-related negative thoughts, safety behaviours, self-focused attention). Using multiple regression and structural equation modelling, we assessed whether these variables accounted for the link between autism and social fears. Results: In multiple regression, autistic people experienced greater social fears than expected based on Clark and Wells variables, and safety behaviours were less predictive of social fears in autistic people. In structural equation modelling, Clark and Wells variables only mediated half the link between autistic traits and social fears. In exploratory analysis, we found that distress relating to uncertainty was an additional variable that needed to be taken into consideration in the relationship between autistic traits and social fears. Conclusion: The Clark and Wells variables were relevant in autism, but did not fully explain elevated social fears in autistic people, which suggests that other factors are also important in accounting for social anxiety in autistic people. This means that therapy informed by the model may not be optimal for autistic people. We recommend further research developing adapted therapy for social anxiety in autistic people.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses aggregate research findings across studies and populations, making them a valuable form of research evidence. Over the past decade, studies in medical education using these methods have increased by 630%. However, many manuscripts are not publication-ready due to inadequate planning and insufficient analyses. These guidelines aim to improve the clarity and comprehensiveness of reporting methodologies and outcomes, ensuring high quality and comparability. They align with existing standards like PRISMA, providing examples and best practices. Adhering to these guidelines is crucial for publication consideration in "Anatomical Sciences Education."

Because literacy is a twenty-first century education skill (OECD, 21st-century readers: developing literacy skills in a digital world, PISA, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/a83d84cb-en, 2021), educational stakeholders across the United States have consistently advocated for initiatives to increase literacy among the general population but especially in the early years and elementary grades. In the following manuscript, we will discuss literacy initiatives in the state of Tennessee with a particular emphasis on the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF). We position this initiative against the backdrop of failing literacy scores and the removal of classroom books across the state. Next, we discuss relevant literature on culturally responsive teaching frameworks, which leads us to make the case that, though necessary, improvements to literacy scores in Tennessee cannot rely solely on the books distributed by the state. It is imperative that the books children have access to introduce them to diverse lived experiences and that educational stakeholders begin questioning who gets to decide which books children can access. Using the specific example of Tennessee, we make the case that this is relevant to all educational stakeholders, because everywhere in the world, there are people and systems who have the power to choose what education looks like and what knowledge and whose experiences are deemed valid. Our purpose within this manuscript is to engage in a critical examination of one early childhood initiative as an example of how others can use a critical lens to examine the implications of initiatives and decisions being made in their own locales and how using a critical lens can also guide practices for advancing equity in classrooms.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an important cash crop in Tanzania as a source of income to cashew growers and provides foreign exchange for the country. Despite its significance, the crop is threatened by fast spreading disease known as cashew Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Field assessment and laboratory tests were conducted to determine incidences of the disease, severity, ecological factors that influence them and explored the pathogen host specificity in six cashew growing districts. The results revealed significant (P

COVID-19: Variants related to susceptibility in a Brazilian population Genetic variants in the Brazilian population do not appear to explain the relatively high overall rates of COVID-19 cases compared to other countries, but could be relevant for risk assessment at the individual level. Iscia Lopes-Cendes of the University of Campinas and colleagues in Brazil examined gene sequences for variations in 27 genes reported to influence COVID-19 infection in Brazilians of mixed heritage and of people born in the southeast where case numbers are high. These studies included the ACE2 gene that codes for a receptor allowing SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells. Genetic variants were also identified in two international genome databases. Seventy variants were unique to Brazilians, but computer modeling predicted only seven variants that could affect protein function. The team also looked for and found variants that could affect individual immunity to COVID-19. Similar genetic studies could help identify at-risk individuals and therapeutic targets.

Abstract The hormone renin plays a crucial role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis. Normally, renin is synthesized by juxtaglomerular (JG) cells, a specialized group of myoepithelial cells located near the entrance to the kidney glomeruli. In response to low blood pressure and/or a decrease in extracellular fluid volume (as it occurs during dehydration, hypotension, or septic shock) JG cells respond by releasing renin to the circulation to reestablish homeostasis. Interestingly, renin-expressing cells also exist outside of the kidney, where their function has remained a mystery. We discovered a unique type of renin-expressing B-1 lymphocyte that may have unrecognized roles in defending the organism against infections. These cells synthesize renin, entrap and phagocyte bacteria and control bacterial growth. The ability of renin-bearing lymphocytes to control infections—which is enhanced by the presence of renin—adds a novel, previously unsuspected dimension to the defense role of renin-expressing cells, linking the endocrine control of circulatory homeostasis with the immune control of infections to ensure survival.