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West Nile Virus (WNV) is a zoonotic, vector-borne pathogen affecting humans and animals, particularly in Europe. The virus is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes that infect birds, which serve as the main reservoirs. Humans and horses are incidental hosts. This review focuses on the epidemiology of WNV in southern Europe, particularly its increasing prevalence. Methods included an extensive literature review and analysis of recent outbreaks. WNV is largely asymptomatic in humans, but a small percentage can develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND), leading to severe neurological symptoms and fatalities. Horses can also suffer from neurological complications, with high mortality rates. Climate change, migratory birds, and mosquito population dynamics contribute to the virus spread across Europe. Control efforts focus on vector management, and while vaccines are available for horses, none has been approved for humans. Surveillance, particularly of bird and mosquito populations, and further research into the virus molecular structure are crucial for understanding and mitigating future outbreaks.

This paper focuses on the experiences of Indigenous learners at Athabasca University. Having access to online education provided a sense of normalcy for students during the global pandemic while many post-secondary institutions and Indigenous communities were closed. The purpose of the research was two-fold: a) to determine the dynamics of reaching Indigenous learners and measuring their adaptability in learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and b) to understand the effects of the pandemic on the mind, body, spirit, and social environment of Indigenous distance education learners and their families. This research included qualitative and quantitative methods, specifically, a survey, focus group, and individual interviews. We share the results of online research involving Indigenous students during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. We concluded that listening to Indigenous students supported their online education while giving them an outlet to express their experiences. This research identified Indigenous student adaptations towards their spirituality in specific ways inherent to their culture given the reactions to COVID-19, their responses, and reflections.

Incentive-based pay-for-performance (P4P) models have been introduced during the last 2 decades as a mechanism to improve the delivery of evidence-based care that ensures clinical quality and improves health outcomes. There is mixed evidence that P4P has a positive effect on health outcomes and researchers cite lack of engagement from health care professionals as a limiting factor. This qualitative metasynthesis of existing qualitative research was conducted to integrate health care professionals’ perceptions of P4P in clinical practice. Four themes emerged during the research process: positive perceptions of the value of performance measurement and associated financial incentives; negative perceptions of the performance measurement and associated financial incentives; perceptions of how P4P programs influence the quality/appropriateness of care; and perceptions of the influence of P4P program on professional roles and workplace dynamics. Identifying factors that influence health care professionals’ perceptions about this type of value-based payment model will guide future research.

Insertion polynorbornenes (PBNEs) are rigid-rod polymers that have very high glass transition temperatures (Tg). In this study, two functional PNBEs were electrospun in the presence of a variety of cross-linkers, resulting in fibers with Tgs greater than 300 °C. The fibers are long (several mm), rigid, and with diameters that can be tuned in the range 300 nm–10 μm. The electrospinning process can be used to encapsulate dyes or graphene dots. Due to the high cross-linking density of the fiber, dye leaching is prevented. In contrast with other rigid-rod polymers, electrospinning of PNBE is facile and can be performed at injection rates as high as 1 mL/min.

El Consejo de Asesores del Presidente de EE.UU en temas de Ciencia y Tecnología de 2010 indicó que existía la necesidad de poner a disposición de los individuos entornos STEM (siglas inglesas que corresponden a Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas) fuertes para poder ser un país competitivo a nivel internacional. Además, se ha descubierto que hay una brecha de género en los campos relacionados con el ámbito STEM. Por tanto, este artículo describe tanto las teorías referidas a la brecha de género en el campo STEM como las formas de involucrar a las chicas en campos relacionados con el ámbito STEM a fin de acabar con la brecha de género. Los investigadores responsables de este estudio han llevado a cabo un trabajo (de campo) exhaustivo para revisar la literatura existente, para condensar y resumir los hallazgos realizados en diversos estudios y para dar pasos de cara a que los educadores se impliquen en lo que creará una atmósfera temprana de entornos de aprendizaje positivos donde las chicas tengan curiosidad por los conceptos STEM.

Building sustainable national health laboratory systems requires laboratory leaders who can address complex and changing demands for services and build strong collaborative networks. Global consensus on laboratory leadership competencies is critically important to ensure the harmonization of learning approaches for curriculum development across relevant health sectors. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) have partnered to develop a Laboratory Leadership Competency Framework (CF) that provides a foundation for the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP). The CF represents the first global consensus from multiple disciplines on laboratory leadership competencies and provides structure for the development of laboratory leaders with the knowledge, skills and abilities to build bridges, enhance communication, foster collaboration and develop an understanding of existing synergies between the human, animal, environmental, and other relevant health sectors.

Christina Isajiw. Negotiating Human Rights: In Defence of Dissidents during the Soviet Era. A Memoir. Edmonton and Toronto: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, 2014. xxx, 407 pp. Foreword by Bohdan Nahaylo. Introduction. Illustrations. Appendices on separate CD-Rom. Index. Paper.

Pico Island is one of the islands of the Azores archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean, where there are very specific conditions for vine cultivation. In this context, there is scarce knowledge related to grape ripening under these conditions. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate several physicochemical parameters, the phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and varietal aromatic potential, of the “Merlot”, Syrah”, and “Saborinho” grape varieties cultivated on Pico Island over three vintages. The outcomes obtained demonstrated that “Merlot” grapes showed a tendency for significantly higher values of estimated alcohol degree, total phenols, flavonoid and non-flavonoid phenols, total anthocyanins, color intensity, and antioxidant capacity over the three vintages. In addition, for individual anthocyanins, “Merlot” and “Syrah” grapes showed a predominance of acetyl-anthocyanins in relation to p-coumaroylated forms, while for “Saborinho” grapes, an oppositive tendency was observed. For varietal aromatic potential, only in the 2021 vintage was it possible to detect significantly different values between the three grape varieties studied. In this case, “Merlot” and “Syrah” grapes showed the significantly highest values. Considering all parameters analyzed, the results obtained for the “Merlot” grape variety seem to show a better adaptation of this variety to the conditions of Pico Island than the remaining two varieties studied.

In Italy, migration is a new phenomenon, with non-native women and men constituting roughly equal shares of the workforce. However, their employment sectors differ significantly: non-native women often work in the same sectors as native women, while non-native men are employed in distinct sectors compared to their native counterparts. This paper examines gender segregation by analysing individuals’ backgrounds—distinguishing between native and non-native workers—and the impact of contract types, specifically fixed-term versus open-ended contracts. The study aims to determine whether the prevalence of these contract types influences the level of gender segregation across sectors. Findings indicate that the type of employment contract significantly affects gender segregation. Increased use of fixed-term contracts is associated with a reduction in sectoral segregation, suggesting that women are increasingly willing to enter male-dominated fields, while men tend to gravitate towards female-dominated sectors. This dynamic underscores the complexities of gender roles within the context of migration and employment.

This paper traces the development of teacher candidate benchmarks at one liberal arts institution. Begun as a classroom assessment activity over ten years ago, the benchmarks, through collaboration with professional development school partners, now serve as a primary measure of teacher candidates' performance in the final phases of the teacher education program. The benchmarks are research-based and align with InTASC principles, the university mission, and the departmental conceptual framework. The benchmarks reflect the developmental stages of the novice teacher at three levels: Beginning, Transitional, and Program Completion. Benchmarks provide guidance to candidates, mentors, and supervisors about what is expected at each of the three points of internship. Uses and benefits are discussed. (Contains 1 table.)

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth performance, enteric methane production, carcass traits, and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus thoracis muscle of young Nellore and Angus x Nellore beef bulls fed with a high-lipid diet and finished in feedlot. Fifty young bulls were evaluated, being divided into two groups: Nellore (n=25) and Angus × Nellore (n=25), randomly assigned to four pens in a completely randomized design. The feedlot phase covered 105 days of feed. The diet (80% concentrate) was formulated to meet or exceed beef cattle requirements to reach an average daily gain of 1.6 kg per day. The crossbred animals showed a higher dry matter intake, feed efficiency, initial body weight, final body weight, average daily gain, average daily carcass gain, hot carcass weight, and percentage of rib. However, dressing percentage was similar for both groups. The Nellore animals produced more enteric methane, expressed in g kg-1 average daily gain), but, also, higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. The two genetic groups show satisfactory growth rates, but the crossbred animals present a better growth performance and produce less methane per unit of beef. The animal’s genetic composition modifies its fatty acid profile.