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Abstract Fire and herbivores alter vegetation structure and function. Future fire activity is predicted to increase, and quantifying changes in vegetation communities arising from post‐fire herbivory is needed to better manage natural environments. We investigated the effects of post‐fire herbivory on understory plant communities in a coastal eucalypt forest in southeastern Australia. We quantified herbivore activity, understory plant diversity, and dominant plant morphology following a wildfire in 2017 using two sizes of exclosures. Statistical analysis incorporated the effect of exclusion treatments, time since fire, and the effect of a previous prescribed burn. Exclusion treatments altered herbivore activity, but time since fire did not. Herbivory reduced plant species richness, diversity, and evenness and promoted the dominance of the most abundant plants within the understory. Increasing time since fire reduced community diversity and evenness and influenced morphological changes to the dominant understory plant species, increasing size and dead material while decreasing abundance. We found the legacy effects of a previous prescribed burn had no effect on herbivores or vegetation within our study. Foraging by large herbivores resulted in a depauperate vegetation community. As post‐fire herbivory can alter vegetation communities, we postulate that management burning practices may exacerbate herbivore impacts. Future fire management strategies to minimize herbivore‐mediated alterations to understory vegetation could include aggregating management burns into larger fire sizes or linking fire management with herbivore management. Restricting herbivore access following fire (planned or otherwise) can encourage a more diverse and species‐rich understory plant community. Future research should aim to determine how vegetation change from post‐fire herbivory contributes to future fire risk.

Losses to life and property from unplanned fires (wildfires) are forecast to increase because of population growth in peri-urban areas and climate change. In response, there have been moves to increase fuel reduction--clearing, prescribed burning, biomass removal and grazing--to afford greater protection to peri-urban communities in fire-prone regions. But how effective are these measures? Severe wildfires in southern Australia in 2009 presented a rare opportunity to address this question empirically. We predicted that modifying several fuels could theoretically reduce house loss by 76%-97%, which would translate to considerably fewer wildfire-related deaths. However, maximum levels of fuel reduction are unlikely to be feasible at every house for logistical and environmental reasons. Significant fuel variables in a logistic regression model we selected to predict house loss were (in order of decreasing effect): (1) the cover of trees and shrubs within 40 m of houses, (2) whether trees and shrubs within 40 m of houses was predominantly remnant or planted, (3) the upwind distance from houses to groups of trees or shrubs, (4) the upwind distance from houses to public forested land (irrespective of whether it was managed for nature conservation or logging), (5) the upwind distance from houses to prescribed burning within 5 years, and (6) the number of buildings or structures within 40 m of houses. All fuel treatments were more effective if undertaken closer to houses. For example, 15% fewer houses were destroyed if prescribed burning occurred at the observed minimum distance from houses (0.5 km) rather than the observed mean distance from houses (8.5 km). Our results imply that a shift in emphasis away from broad-scale fuel-reduction to intensive fuel treatments close to property will more effectively mitigate impacts from wildfires on peri-urban communities.

Molecular feedback loops involving transcription and translation and several key genes are at the core of circadian regulatory cycles affecting cellular pathways and metabolism. These cycles are active in most adult animal cells but little is known about their expression or influence during development.To determine if circadian cycles are active during mammalian development we measured the expression of key circadian genes during embryogenesis in mice using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. All of the genes examined were expressed in whole embryos beginning at the earliest age examined, embryonic day 10. In contrast to adult tissues, circadian variation was absent for all genes at all of the embryonic ages examined in either whole embryos or individual tissues. Using a bioluminescent fusion protein that tracks translation of the circadian gene, per2, we also analyzed protein levels. Similar to mRNA, a protein rhythm was observed in adult tissue but not in embryonic tissues collected in-vivo. In contrast, when tissues were placed in culture for the continuous assay of bioluminescence, rhythms were observed in embryonic (E18) tissues. We found that placing embryonic tissues in culture set the timing (phase) of these rhythms, suggesting the importance of a synchronizing signal for the expression of circadian cycles in developing tissues.These results show that embryonic tissues express key circadian genes and have the capacity to express active circadian regulatory cycles. In vivo, circadian cycles are not expressed in embryonic tissues as they are in adult tissues. Individual cells might express oscillations, but are not synchronized until later in development.

Background: People with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) have experienced substantial improvements in health following use of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies. However, less is known about how modulator therapies impact well-being., Methods: We used a cross-sectional observational study to identify relationships between CFTR modulator therapies, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and well-being. Adult PwCF and caregivers of children with CF completed the Wellness in the Modulator Era (Well-ME) survey between June 22 and July 31, 2022. HRQoL was measured with PROMIS Global 10/Global 7 + 2 Parent Proxy. We used a mixed methods analysis to compare experiences and concerns of PwCF who currently (n = 665), no longer (n = 51), or never (n = 184) took modulator therapy., Results: Adult PwCF taking a modulator (n = 416) reported better PROMIS global physical health than those who no longer (n = 37) or never took a modulator (n = 94) and better PROMIS global mental health than those who never took a modulator. Caregiver-reported HRQoL was similar across children with CF who currently, no longer, or never took a modulator. PwCF taking a modulator reported larger improvements in physical health, quality of life, social well-being, and treatment burden than those who no longer or never took a modulator. Nearly one-quarter (23 %) of PwCF taking modulator therapy reported worsening of mental well-being., Conclusions: This study expands our knowledge of well-being among PwCF in the CFTR modulator era as reported by patients and parents. Findings lay the groundwork for establishing future research priorities, policy efforts, and communications in areas that improve well-being for PwCF., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors of this manuscript would like to disclose the following conflict of interest: E.A. reports a salary from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. T.K. reports grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and consulting fees from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. J.K. reports grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (VANCIT23AO-LAD and NELSON20QI0). C.L. receives an honorarium from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for time spent developing a survey. C.R. reports a salary from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. E.Y. reports a salary from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. A.V.C. reports grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (VANCIT23AO-LAD and NELSON20QI0), along with an honorarium and reimbursement for personal travel expenses to attend the 2023 CF Foundation Therapeutics Development Network meeting. J.A. reports funding support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the National Institute of Health, grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the National Institute of Health, consulting fees from Anagram Therapeutics, and holds a leadership role in The Obesity Society. C.B. reports grants to her institution from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and AstraZeneca, and serves as a board member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Indiana Chapter. J.C. receives a salary from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. R.C. reports an honorarium from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for time spent developing a survey. C.F. reports a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Center Grant for salary support as a CF center director and for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation STRC. A.G. reports grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Dutch Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, along with consulting fees and honoraria paid directly from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Saudi Pediatric Pulmonology Association, and Virginia Commonwealth Universit, along with support to attend meetings from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, European Cystic Fibrosis Society, French Cystic Fibrosis Society, as well as a Leadership position at European Cystic Fibrosis Society committee and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation committee chair, both providing institutional funding. C.G. reports funding and grants from the National Institutes of Health, FDA, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, along with Consulting fees paid directly from Enterprise Therapeutics Honoraria from Gilead Sciences and Vertex Pharmaceutical, and support to attend meetings from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Enterprise Therapeutics, as well as Serving as a DSMB Chair for a trial supported by Novartis and the European Commission. Deputy Editor, Annals of the ATS, and Stock in Air Therapeutics. All other authors have nothing to disclose, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Electron beam quality is paramount for X-ray pulse production in free-electron-lasers (FELs). State-of-the-art linear accelerators (linacs) can deliver multi-GeV electron beams with sufficient quality for hard X-ray-FELs, albeit requiring km-scale setups, whereas plasma-based accelerators can produce multi-GeV electron beams on metre-scale distances, and begin to reach beam qualities sufficient for EUV FELs. Here we show, that electron beams from plasma photocathodes many orders of magnitude brighter than state-of-the-art can be generated in plasma wakefield accelerators (PWFAs), and then extracted, captured, transported and injected into undulators without significant quality loss. These ultrabright, sub-femtosecond electron beams can drive hard X-FELs near the cold beam limit to generate coherent X-ray pulses of attosecond-Angstrom class, reaching saturation after only 10 metres of undulator. This plasma-X-FEL opens pathways for advanced photon science capabilities, such as unperturbed observation of electronic motion inside atoms at their natural time and length scale, and towards higher photon energies., (© 2023. Crown.)

Purpose : This paper mains to bring attention to the potential impact COVID-19 could have on suicide risk among individuals who are incarcerated and those reentering the community after incarceration (i.e. reentry), with particular emphasis on the USA, as well as provide possible solutions to mitigate suicide risk., Design/methodology/approach : This paper provides an overview of the association between the COVID-19 pandemic policies and suicide, the vulnerabilities specific to prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant suicide risk factors among prisoners, the possible impact of COVID-19 on suicide risk during reentry and proposed solutions for moving forward to mitigate both risks for COVID-19 and suicide., Findings : This paper highlights that prisoners and individuals reentering the community are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and suicide risk and COVID-19-related stressors may further exacerbate known suicide risk factors (e.g. psychiatric symptoms, lack of positive social ties, low feelings of belonging, feelings of burden, economic problems) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This paper also discusses barriers (e.g. lack of funds, access to health and mental health care, COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment) to managing COVID-19 and suicide risk within prisons and during reentry., Originality/value : This paper provides a review of scalable solutions that could mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and suicide risk during this pandemic among prisoners and those reentering the community, such as psychoeducation, self-help stress management, telehealth services, increased access and reduced cost of phone calls, reduced or eliminated cost of soap and sanitization supplies in prisons and early release programs.

Erjing prescription (EJP) was an ancient formula that was recorded in the General Medical Collection of Royal Benevolence of the Song Dynasty. It has been frequently used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the long history of China. The formula consists of Lycium barbarum L. and Polygonatum sibiricum F. Delaroche with a ratio of 1 : 1. This study aimed to identify the potential effects and mechanisms of EJP treatment T2DM. The target proteins and possible pathways of EJP in T2DM treatment were investigated by the approach of network pharmacology and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). 99 diabetes-related proteins were regulated by 56 bioactive constituents in EJP in 26 signal pathways by Cytoscape determination. According to GO analysis, 606 genes entries have been enriched. The PPI network suggested that AKT1, EGF, EGFR, MAPK1, and GSK3 β proteins were core genes. Among the 26 signal pathways, the PI3K-AKT signal pathway was tested by the RT-PCR. The expression level of PI3K p85, AKT1, GSK3 β , and Myc mRNA of this pathway was regulated by EJP. The study based on network pharmacology and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the blood sugar level was regulated by EJP via regulating the PI3K-AKT signal pathway. Plenty of new treatment methods for T2DM using EJP were provided by network pharmacology analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Jiexin Wang et al.)

Sources of high-energy photons have important applications in almost all areas of research. However, the photon flux and intensity of existing sources is strongly limited for photon energies above a few hundred keV. Here we show that a high-current ultrarelativistic electron beam interacting with multiple submicrometer-thick conducting foils can undergo strong self-focusing accompanied by efficient emission of gamma-ray synchrotron photons. Physically, self-focusing and high-energy photon emission originate from the beam interaction with the near-field transition radiation accompanying the beam-foil collision. This near field radiation is of amplitude comparable with the beam self-field, and can be strong enough that a single emitted photon can carry away a significant fraction of the emitting electron energy. After beam collision with multiple foils, femtosecond collimated electron and photon beams with number density exceeding that of a solid are obtained. The relative simplicity, unique properties, and high efficiency of this gamma-ray source open up new opportunities for both applied and fundamental research including laserless investigations of strong-field QED processes with a single electron beam.