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Students benefit when faculty develop their teaching practice. This study aimed to identify why faculty seek professional development (PD), barriers to addressing classroom needs, and the benefit of PD in developing an understanding of classroom diversity at an HSI. Data from over 400 participants indicate a desire for classroom and online engagement activities. Faculty also described PD as facilitating the building of a community of peers engaged in student success while better understanding shifting demographics.

Small businesses are at the cornerstone of the US economy - driving innovation, generating wealth, and creating jobs. Although women of color (WOC) make up an important and expanding segment of small business owners, research has shown that they are also more likely to face challenges accessing capital, which limits their opportunities for growth and innovation. Understanding their experiences is therefore crucial for identifying policies and practices that can bridge resource gaps for marginalized business owners.Our research takes a qualitative approach to uncovering how lived experiences and intersectionality impact WOC's access to capital and how resources, policies, and practices can support their access to the right capital at the right time. Based on 31 interviews with WOC entrepreneurs, our research uncovers the factors enabling and constraining WOC entrepreneurs when starting and growing their businesses and the effect of lived experience on women of color entrepreneurs' ability to innovate and take risks. We conclude with concrete policy recommendations for how to begin to dismantle the barriers encountered by WOC entrepreneurs and bring greater equity to WOC entrepreneurs and the communities their businesses serve.

Background: Despite the implementation of specific exercises to reduce hamstrings strain injuries (HSI) risk, the incidence has remained unchanged over the past 30 years. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to analyze hamstrings muscle activation induced by a novel Flywheel Russian belt Deadlift (FRD) exercise, together with individual muscle-, region- and limb-specific differences. Methods: The activation of hamstring muscles before and immediately after a 10 × 10 FRD training session was assessed by the T2 shift technique through functional magnetic resonance imaging, in one international-level filed hockey male player. The individual use of the biceps femoris long head (BFLH) and short head (BFSH), semitendinosus (ST), and semimembranosus (SM) were analyzed, together with the region-specific activation for each muscle. Results: T2 values significantly increased immediately after exercise in all regions of the hamstring muscles in both dominant and non-dominant lower limb. However, the SM muscle showed a lesser activation, compared to BFLH, BFSH and ST muscles [F(3,106) = 9.557, p < 0.001]. Overall, the most activated muscle by the FRD training session was the biceps femoris (short head +13.8 %, long head, +12.7 %), followed by the ST (+11.3 %), and lastly the SM (+6.9 %). Conclusion: The novel FRD exercise triggers a homogeneous and consistent activation of hamstring muscles. Particularly, the lateral positioning muscles (i.e., BFLH and BFSH) were more activated than the medial positioning muscles (i.e., ST and SM). Therefore, the FRD exercise could enhance training programs to strengthen and activate the hamstring muscles, and specifically, the BFLH, in order to reduce HSI risk.

The opportunistic fungus Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) can cause either cutaneous or systemic infections. We report a case of M. furfur fungemia in a 22-year-old male with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) who developed concomitant Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) septicemia. The fungal infection was diagnosed by microscopic examination and culture-based methods, while automated blood culture systems and molecular approaches failed in identifying the fungus. Despite appropriate therapy, the patient died 18 days after the hospitalization.

Abstract. Trauma is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide with high rates of disability in survivors. With improvements in care, rehabilitation of the trauma patient is a cornerstone to reducing sequelae. A lack of well-established hospital rehabilitation units and standardized protocols for managing posttraumatic injuries is a common problem in Latin American countries. Future studies should seek to understand the barriers and gaps in care so that consensus and ultimately best practice guidelines can be developed and included in rehabilitation programs throughout trauma centers in Latin America.

L’objet du présent article est de présenter les principaux résultats d’une démarche de recherche réalisée entre 2019 et 2022 avec l’appui du Conseil de recherche en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH). La recherche portait sur l’étude comparative de dix fondations subventionnaires ayant adopté une posture d’intervention fondée sur le lieu (place-based philanthropy). Notre texte est divisé en trois grandes sections. La première se penche sur la philanthropie moderne. La deuxième présente le résultat de la méta-analyse qui a été réalisée au début de l’étude comparative. La troisième section expose les résultats de l’analyse comparative effectuée. Avant de conclure par un appel à l’action fondée sur le lieu, nous présentons les questions qui ont guidé notre collecte de données et validons ou invalidons nos hypothèses de travail.

Mercury (Hg) methylation genes (hgcAB) mediate the formation of the toxic methylmercury and have been identified from diverse environments, including freshwater and marine ecosystems, Arctic permafrost, forest and paddy soils, coal-ash amended sediments, chlor-alkali plants discharges and geothermal springs. Here we present the first attempt at a standardized protocol for the detection, identification and quantification of hgc genes from metagenomes. Our Hg-cycling microorganisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Hg-MATE) database, a catalogue of hgc genes, provides the most accurate information to date on the taxonomic identity and functional/metabolic attributes of microorganisms responsible for Hg methylation in the environment. Furthermore, we introduce marky-coco, a ready-to-use bioinformatic pipeline based on de novo single-metagenome assembly, for easy and accurate characterization of hgc genes from environmental samples. We compared the recovery of hgc genes from environmental metagenomes using the marky-coco pipeline with an approach based on coassembly of multiple metagenomes. Our data show similar efficiency in both approaches for most environments except those with high diversity (i.e., paddy soils) for which a coassembly approach was preferred. Finally, we discuss the definition of true hgc genes and methods to normalize hgc gene counts from metagenomes.

The primary climatic characteristic of olive cultivation in Peru is the coastal desert environment with moderate temperatures, minimal precipitation, and high atmospheric water content during the winter season. This report presents a comprehensive study on water and carbon fluxes in a drip-irrigated olive orchard in Pisco Province, Peru, addressing the current lack of information on olive physiology and water management under these environmental conditions. The eddy covariance system installed in September 2019 showed an average ET of 2.18 ± 0.38 mm d−1, with seasonal variation. Drip irrigation was set at 60 m3 ha−1 d−1 during the growing season and reduced to half that amount in the winter. The study suggests that using deficit irrigation based on affordable dendrometry sensors could reduce water use by close to 30% while potentially preserving biomass gain and fruit yields. This could help improve water management in olive cultivation in coastal Peru.

Soil moisture (SM) is crucial for the Earth's ecosystem, impacting climate and vegetation health. Obtaining in situ observations of SM is labor-intensive and complex, particularly in remote and densely vegetated regions like the Amazon rainforest. NASA's soil moisture active and passive (SMAP) mission, utilizing an L-band radiometer, aims to monitor global SM. While it has been validated in areas with low vegetation water content (VWC) (< 5 ${\text{kgm}}^{ - 2}$), its efficiency in the Amazon, with dense canopies and high VWC (> 10 ${\text{kgm}}^{ - 2}$), is limitedly investigated due to scarce in situ measurements. This study assessed and analyzed the SMAP SM retrievals in the Amazon, employing the single-channel algorithm and adjusting vegetation optical depth (τ) and single scattering albedo (ω), two key vegetation parameters. It incorporated in situ SM observations from three old-growth rainforest locations: Tambopata (Southwest Amazon), Manaus (Central Amazon), and Caxiuana (Eastern Amazon). The SMAP SM deviated substantially from the in situ SM. However, calibrating τ and ω values, characterized by a lower τ, resulted in better agreement with the in situ measurements. This study emphasizes the pressing need for innovative methodologies to accurately retrieve SM in high-VWC regions like the Amazon rainforest using SMAP data.

Con el objetivo de estudiar la composición fenológica y química de 6 variedades de caña de azúcar para ser utilizadas en la alimentación animal se realizó un experimento en áreas del banco de semilla básica ubicado en el batey Espartaco en la provincia de Cienfuegos sobre un suelo Pardo con carbonato (cambisol eutrico), Se utilizó un diseño experimental de bloques al azar, con un modelo de clasificación simple. Cada variedad ocupó un área de 64 m2 (4 surcos de 10 m), en la cepa caña planta, con edades entre 12 y 14 meses de edad, se tomaron tres muestras al azar (réplicas) de cada variedad. Se calcularon los valores de las variables morfológicas peso fresco del tallo, cogollo y hojas secas por la metodología de Molina y Tuero. Para el estudio de la composición química se estudiaron las variables digestibilidad de la materia seca, contenido de fibra ácida detergente, lignina, proteína bruta. Se realizaron análisis de varianza y comparación de medias por la prueba de comparación múltiple de Newman Keuls con las variables fenológicas y químicas. Se confeccionó análisis de conglomerados con las variables, digestibilidad, fibra ácida detergente y lignina. Como resultado se encontraron diferencias significativas en la composición fenológica y química en las variedades estudiadas, el análisis de conglomerados definió 3 grupos lo que permitió recomendar los cultivares C05-307, C05-568, C08-386, para la alimentación animal.

The growth of IoT (Internet of Things) devices has revolutionized several industries and brought about novel security threats. Recognizing network anomalies that may point to malicious activity or system flaws is a major issue. Traditional anomalous identification methods frequently need to catch up when dealing with the special traits of IoT environments, including resource limitations and changing network behavior. This paper introduces an innovative approach, the Bat-optimized CNN-BiLSTM model, to enhance the security and efficiency of IoT environments. This model combines the strengths of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for spatial analysis and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) networks for capturing temporal patterns, thus effectively representing time and space trends in IoT data. To optimize its performance further, researchers have leveraged the Bat algorithm, inspired by natural behaviors, to fine-tune the model. This program effectively searches for the best network anomaly detection parameters by imitating the echo activity of bats. Researchers want to increase detection accuracy by lowering false positives and false negatives using the Bat algorithm to enhance the CNN-BiLSTM model. The experimental findings show that the Bat-optimised CNN-BiLSTM model beats the state-of-the-art anomaly detection methods with 99.43% accuracy and efficiency.

Green nail syndrome (GNS) is a persistent greenish pigmentation of the nail plate, originally described in 1944 by Goldman and Fox, due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Recently, pulmonary co-infection of P. aeruginosa and Achromobacter spp. has been described in patients with cystic fibrosis. Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen involved in lung and soft tissue skin infections. Both Achromobacter xylosoxidans and P. aeruginosa are mainly found in humid environments or in water. There are no recognized co-infections due to P. aeruginosa and A. xylosoxidans in the skin and appendages. We describe two cases of GNS, the first due to P. aeruginosa associated with Achromobacter xylosoxidans; the other due to MDR P. aeruginosa, both successfully treated with topical ozenoxacin 1% cream daily for 12 weeks. The clinical management of GNS can be confusing, especially when the bacterial culture result is inconsistent or when non-Pseudomonas bacteria are isolated. In our case, due to the co-infection of P. aeruginosa and Achromobacter spp., local treatment with ozenoxacin – the first nonfluorinated quinolone – could be a safe and effective treatment in case of MDR nail infections. Further studies are required to evaluate clinical isolation from nail infections and the co-presence of P. aeruginosa and A. xylosoxidans.

We report on a qualitative research study that identifies both challenges and successes resulting from the implementation of a Peer Education program at an urban, Hispanic-serving, Tier 1 Research University. By drawing on the experiences of 29 peer educators, we demonstrate the ways that combining peer mentoring and tutoring provided benefits for those who were not only served but those who served them. Lessons learned are shared.

BackgroundTo date, studies investigating the association between pre-biologic biomarker levels and post-biologic outcomes have been limited to single biomarkers and assessment of biologic efficacy from structured clinical trials.AimTo elucidate the associations of pre-biologic individual biomarker levels or their combinations with pre-to-post biologic changes in asthma outcomes in real-life.MethodsThis was a registry-based, cohort study using data from 23 countries, which shared data with the International Severe Asthma Registry (May 2017-February 2023). The investigated biomarkers (highest pre-biologic levels) were immunoglobulin E (IgE), blood eosinophil count (BEC) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Pre- to approximately 12-month post-biologic change for each of three asthma outcome domains (i.e. exacerbation rate, symptom control and lung function), and the association of this change with pre-biologic biomarkers was investigated for individual and combined biomarkers.ResultsOverall, 3751 patients initiated biologics and were included in the analysis. No association was found between pre-biologic BEC and pre-to-post biologic change in exacerbation rate for any biologic class. However, higher pre-biologic BEC and FeNO were both associated with greater post-biologic improvement in FEV1 for both anti-IgE and anti-IL5/5R, with a trend for anti-IL4Rα. Mean FEV1 improved by 27-178 mL post-anti-IgE as pre-biologic BEC increased (250 to 1000 cells/µL), and by 43-216 mL and 129-250 mL post-anti-IL5/5R and -anti-IL4Rα, respectively along the same BEC gradient. Corresponding improvements along a FeNO gradient (25-100 ppb) were 41-274 mL, 69-207 mL and 148-224 mL for anti-IgE, anti-IL5/5R, and anti-IL4Rα, respectively. Higher baseline BEC was also associated with lower probability of uncontrolled asthma (OR 0.392; p=0.001) post-biologic for anti-IL5/5R. Pre-biologic IgE was a poor predictor of subsequent pre-to-post-biologic change for all outcomes assessed for all biologics. The combination of BEC + FeNO marginally improved the prediction of post-biologic FEV1 increase (adjusted R2: 0.751), compared to BEC (adjusted R2: 0.747) or FeNO alone (adjusted R2: 0.743) (p=0.005 and

BackgroundThe family of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) acts as a controller of the duration and intensity of cytokine function by negatively regulating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. SOCS’ role in inflammatory diseases in animal models is well demonstrated. However, its role in the development of human disease is still under investigation. SOCS3 plays an important role in tumor development where its downregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various solid tumors such as triple-negative breast cancer.AimThe aim of this work was to study (1) the expression of SOCS3 in smokers’ lungs and its relation to the degree of inflammation and (2) SOCS3 regulation by microRNA (miRNA) in alveolar-macrophage (AM)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).MethodsGroup A: 35 smokers’ [19 with COPD (SC) and 16 without COPD (S)] and 9 nonsmokers (NS); SOCS3, TNFα in AM, and CD8+ T cells were quantified by immunohistochemistry, in lung tissue. Group B: additional 9 SC, 11 S, and 5 NS; AM-EVs expressing SOCS3 (CD14+SOCS3+) and SOCS3 suppressors miRNA-19a-3p and 221-3p in EVs were quantified by flow cytometry and PCR, in BAL.ResultsThe percentage of SOCS3+ AM was higher in SC [68 (6.6–99)%] and S [48 (8–100)%] than in NS [9.6 (1.9–61)%; p = 0.002; p = 0.03] and correlated with % of TNFα+AM (r = 0.48; p = 0.0009) and CD8+ T cells (r = 0.44; p = 0.0029). In BAL, the CD14+SOCS3+ EVs/μL were increased in SC [33 (21–74)] compared to S [16 (8–37); p = 0.03] and NS [9 (7–21); p = 0.003]. Conversely, miRNA-19a-3p and miRNA-221-3p expression were increased in S when compared to SC [19 (2–53) vs. 3 (0.6–8); p = 0.03 and 3 (0.005–9.6) vs. 0.2 (0.08–0.7); p = 0.05].ConclusionsThe suppressor function of SOCS3 in COPD seems to be overridden by other factors and does not follow the animal-model paradigm. Expression of SOCS3 in BAL macrophage-derived EVs might be useful to assess the degree of inflammation and possible progression of COPD. Downregulation of SOCS3, by miRNA, in smokers without COPD might contribute to the risk of developing cancer in these patients.

Abstract Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key process linking surface and atmospheric energy budgets, yet its drivers and patterns across wetlandscapes are poorly understood worldwide. Here we assess the ET dynamics in 12 wetland complexes across South America, revealing major differences under temperate, tropical, and equatorial climates. While net radiation is a dominant driver of ET seasonality in most environments, flooding also contributes strongly to ET in tropical and equatorial wetlands, especially in meeting the evaporative demand. Moreover, significant water losses through wetlands and ET differences between wetlands and uplands occur in temperate, more water-limited environments and in highly flooded areas such as the Pantanal, where slow river flood propagation drives the ET dynamics. Finally, floodplain forests produce the greatest ET in all environments except the Amazon River floodplains, where upland forests sustain high rates year round. Our findings highlight the unique hydrological functioning and ecosystem services provided by wetlands on a continental scale.

El presente trabajo se desarrolló en la finca Punta Las Cuevas del municipio de Cienfuegos, provincia del mismo nombre. En un área de 1914 m2, con la finalidad de evaluar el comportamiento del hongo Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet en los clones INIVIT PB-2012 e INIVIT PV 06 30. Para la evaluación se establecieron dos tratamientos, uno para INIVIT PB-2012 y otro para INIVIT PV 06 30 con quince repeticiones, cada uno sembrado a un marco de plantación de 2 m x 2 m. Las variables evaluadas en este trabajo para ambos clones fueron altura de la planta, grosor del tallo, número de hojas activas y número de hojas enfermas. Todas las variables en función de analizar el comportamiento del hongo M. fijiensis en los clones. Los datos fueron procesados estadísticamente a través del software SPSS versión 21. Posteriormente se desarrolló un manejo para el hongo de una forma viable y ecológica. El mismo está enfocado en medidas preventivas y curativas en las que no se aplican fungicidas químicos y la fertilización se realizó con materia orgánica. El experimento mostró que el clon más tolerante y con más posibilidades de adaptabilidad entre los dos fue el INIVIT PB-2012.

Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that often presents with erythematous, sharply demarcated lesions. Although psoriasis is primarily a dermatological disease, its immune-mediated pathogenesis produces systemic effects and is closely associated with various comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and diabetes mellitus type II (DMII). Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE-4) inhibitor, has shown promise in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis and is associated with potential cardiometabolic benefits. In a 12-month prospective observational study involving 137 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, we assessed changes in psoriasis clinimetric scores and metabolic profiles from baseline (T0) to 52 weeks (T1) to evaluate the efficacy of apremilast. After 52 weeks of apremilast treatment, we documented a statistically significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels. Our findings even suggest a potential synergistic effect among patients treated with apremilast, alongside concomitant statin and/or insulin therapy. Although the results of our study must be validated on a larger scale, the use of apremilast in the treatment of psoriatic patients with cardio-metabolic comorbidities yields promising results.

Depending on local cues, macrophages can polarize into classically activated (M1) or alternatively activated (M2) phenotypes. This study investigates the impact of polarized macrophage-derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) (M1 and M2) and their cargo of miRNA-19a-3p and miRNA-425-5p on TGF-β production in lung fibroblasts. EVs were isolated from supernatants of M0, M1, and M2 macrophages and quantified using nanoscale flow cytometry prior to fibroblast stimulation. The concentration of TGF-β in fibroblast supernatants was measured using ELISA assays. The expression levels of miRNA-19a-3p and miRNA-425-5p were assessed via TaqMan-qPCR. TGF-β production after stimulation with M0-derived EVs and with M1-derived EVs increased significantly compared to untreated fibroblasts. miRNA-425-5p, but not miRNA-19a-3p, was significantly upregulated in M2-derived EVs compared to M0- and M1-derived EVs. This study demonstrates that EVs derived from both M0 and M1 polarized macrophages induce the production of TGF-β in fibroblasts, with potential regulation by miRNA-425-5p.

Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that are resistant to multiple drugs (KPMDRs), which are often acquired in hospital settings and lead to healthcare-associated infections, pose a serious public health threat, as does hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp), which can also cause serious infections in otherwise healthy individuals. The widespread and often unnecessary use of antibiotics seen during the recent COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance in clinical settings. There is growing concern that hypervirulent (hvKp) strains may acquire genes that confer antimicrobial resistance, thus combining an MDR profile with their increased ability to spread to multiple body sites, causing difficult-to-treat infections. This study aimed to compare resistance and virulence profiles in KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae isolates collected over four years (2020–2023). A genome-based surveillance of all MDR CRE-K. pneumoniae was used to identify genetic differences and to characterize the virulence and resistance profiles. Our results provide a picture of the evolution of resistance and virulence genes and contribute to avoiding the possible spread of isolates with characteristics of multi-drug resistance and increased virulence, which are thought to be one of the main global challenges to public health, within our hospital.

Cell homeostasis is perturbed when dramatic shifts in the external environment cause the physical-chemical properties inside the cell to change. Experimental approaches for dynamically monitoring these intracellular effects are currently lacking. Here, we leverage the environmental sensitivity and structural plasticity of intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) to develop a FRET biosensor capable of monitoring rapid intracellular changes caused by osmotic stress. The biosensor, named SED1, utilizes the Arabidopsis intrinsically disordered AtLEA4-5 protein expressed in plants under water deficit. Computational modeling and in vitro studies reveal that SED1 is highly sensitive to macromolecular crowding. SED1 exhibits large and near-linear osmolarity-dependent changes in FRET inside living bacteria, yeast, plant, and human cells, demonstrating the broad utility of this tool for studying water-associated stress. This study demonstrates the remarkable ability of IDRs to sense the cellular environment across the tree of life and provides a blueprint for their use as environmentally-responsive molecular tools.

Background: Hamstring muscles are most affected by multiple sprint-based sports as a result of muscle strain during sprinting, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess inter-individual variability in hamstrings recovery after a sport-specific repeated-sprint training (RST), through sprint-specific markers of muscle recovery and associated muscle damage biomarkers in women and men.Methods: Healthy females (n = 14) and males (n = 15) underwent 10 repeated 40-m sprints with a 3-min rest pause between each repetition. Force-generating capacity (FGC) by the 90°hip:20°kneetest and range of motion Jurdan test, together with serum biomarkers [sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (sMtCK), oxidative stress, irisin] were tested at baseline and 24-, 48- and 72-h post-exercise through a repeated measures design. Participants were classified according to FGC loss into high responders (HR) and low responders (LR).Results: 21 individuals (10 females, 11 males) were classified as HR (FGC loss >20% and recovery >48 h), while 8 individuals (4 females, 4 males) were classified as LR. HR individuals showed unrecovered maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque until 72 h post-training (p = 0.003, np2 = 0.170), whereas only HR males showed decreased range of motion (p = 0.026, np2 = 0.116). HR individuals also showed increased sMtCK (p = 0.016, np2 = 0.128), oxidative stress (p = 0.038, np2 = 0.106) and irisin (p = 0.019, np2 = 0.123).Conclusion: There is inter-individual variability in the muscular response to a sport-specific RST, identifiable by MVIC torque assessment. The findings support that the 90°hip:20°kneetest is a powerful indirect test to screen hamstrings recovery in both women and men, in a cost-effective way. However, the Jurdan test might not be able to monitor hamstrings recovery in sportswomen after RST. Decreases in muscle capacity are linked to damage to muscle sarcolemma and mitochondria until 72 h post-exercise. Overall, 72 h will not be adequate time to restore hamstrings structure and function after a sport-specific RST in both female and male responders.

Forest management can affect both the functioning and stability of ecosystems. Constancy and persistence are key factors that contribute to the overall stability of an ecosystem. These factors can be highly variable and change across forest ecosystems. We studied the effects of forest management on the strength of resource–consumer interactions (bird predation and insect herbivory) as important measures of ecosystem functioning, as well as on their constancy in time in four different forested regions globally. Within each region, we selected (i) three heavily managed or plantation forests, and (ii) three urban/peri-urban forests or urban plantings, and paired each of them with pristine/semi-natural forests. Bird predation was estimated using plasticine caterpillars of different colors. Chewer, galler, and miner herbivory on leaves were estimated for 15 plants (shrubs and trees) per study site. Constancy was quantified as the invariability of both predation and herbivory during a period of three (exceptionally two) years. We found no consistent responses of either predation or herbivory to forest management practices across study regions. Bird predation was higher in urban/peri-urban forests than in pristine/semi-natural forests in Patagonian and boreal forest, with intermediate levels of predation in managed or plantation forests. These differences might be explained by the increase of resource availability during the winters and by the higher abundances of generalist predators due to increase of temperatures (i.e., urban heat effect), for those regions where winter temperatures could be a limiting factor. Chewing insect herbivory was lower in urban/peri-urban forests, probably due to the exclusion of certain herbivores in response to warming and the higher predation pressure relative to pristine forests. No differences were found in other types of herbivory, indicating that effects of urbanization are guild-specific. In addition, we consistently found no effects of forest management practices on predation invariability and herbivory, thereby demonstrating the high constancy of ecosystem functioning to different forest management practices across regions. These findings advance our knowledge of the generalized effects of forest management on ecosystem functions and stability by establishing a connection between the ecology and management and conservation of plantations and natural forests.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a crucial role in autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. This study aims to develop a low-cost, simple-to-manufacture, and user-friendly label-free electrochemical point-of-care device for the rapid detection of IL-6 in patients with psoriasis. Precisely, a sandwich-based format immunosensor was developed using two primary antibodies (mAb-IL6 clone-5 and clone-7) and screen-printed electrodes modified with an inexpensive recycling electrochemical enhancing material, called biochar. mAb-IL6 clone-5 was used as a covalently immobilized capture bioreceptor on modified electrodes, and mAb-IL6 clone-7 was used to recognize the immunocomplex (Anti-IL6 clone-5 and IL-6) and form the sandwich. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to conduct electrochemical characterization of the layer-by-layer assembly of the immunosensor, while square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used to perform the sensing. The developed immunosensor demonstrated robust analytical performance in buffer solution, with a wide linear range (LR) by varying from 2 to 250 pg/mL, a good limit of detection (LOD) of 0.78 pg/mL and reproducibility (RSD

In recent years, the incidence of fungal infections in humans has increased dramatically, accompanied by an expansion in the number of species implicated as etiological agents, especially environmental fungi never involved before in human infection. Among fungal pathogens, Candida species are the most common opportunistic fungi that can cause local and systemic infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most common causative agent of mucosal and healthcare-associated systemic infections. However, during recent decades, there has been a worrying increase in the number of emerging multi-drug-resistant non-albicans Candida (NAC) species, i.e., C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. auris, and C. ciferrii. In particular, Candida ciferrii, also known as Stephanoascus ciferrii or Trichomonascus ciferrii, is a heterothallic ascomycete yeast-like fungus that has received attention in recent decades as a cause of local and systemic fungal diseases. Today, the new definition of the S. ciferrii complex, which consists of S. ciferrii, Candida allociferrii, and Candida mucifera, was proposed after sequencing the 18S rRNA gene. Currently, the S. ciferrii complex is mostly associated with non-severe ear and eye infections, although a few cases of severe candidemia have been reported in immunocompromised individuals. Low susceptibility to currently available antifungal drugs is a rising concern, especially in NAC species. In this regard, a high rate of resistance to azoles and more recently also to echinocandins has emerged in the S. ciferrii complex. This review focuses on epidemiological, biological, and clinical aspects of the S. ciferrii complex, including its pathogenicity and drug resistance.

Addressing the global challenge of sustainable waste management, this research investigates the influence of social dynamics and digital connectivity on rural residents’ willingness to adopt waste classification practices, essential for sustainable environmental management. Through a comprehensive analysis of 5413 rural participants surveyed in the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS), this study employs a novel mixed-methods approach. It integrates quantitative analysis with the Manski social interaction framework and a Recursive Bivariate Probit model to explore the intricate interplay between community interactions, internet access, and environmental behaviors. Our methodology stands out for its unique combination of social theory and econometric modeling to address a pressing environmental issue. Results highlight a significant effect of mobile internet use and social interactions within communities on enhancing willingness towards waste classification. Notably, digital connectivity emerges as a key facilitator of environmental engagement, mediating social influences, and fostering a collective approach to waste management. Considering these insights, we propose targeted policy interventions that blend digital strategies with traditional community engagement efforts. Recommendations include crafting digital literacy programs and leveraging social media to bolster community-centric environmental governance. By harnessing the synergistic potential of digital tools and social dynamics, these strategies aim to elevate the effectiveness of waste classification initiatives in rural China, offering a scalable model for environmental sustainability.

Land use change (LUC) is recognized as one of the major drivers of the global loss of biodiversity and represents a major threat to ecosystems. Deforestation through LUC is mainly driven by fire regimes, logging, farming (cropping and ranching), and illegal mining, which are closely linked with environmental management policies. Efficient land management strategies, however, require reliable and robust information. Land monitoring is one such approach that can provide critical information to coordinate policymaking at the global, regional, and local scales, and enable a programmed implementation of shared commitments under the Rio Conventions: the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Here we use Peru as a case study to evaluate how a land monitoring system enables environmental policy decisions which appear in the country’s international commitment reports. Specifically, we synthesize how effective the ongoing land monitoring system has been in responding to current and future environmental challenges; and how improvements in land monitoring can assist in the achievement of national commitments under the Rio Conventions. We find that Peruvian policies and commitments need to be improved to be consistent with the 1.5 °C temperature limit of the Paris agreement. Regarding the Aichi targets, Peru has achieved 17% land area with sustainable management; however, the funding deficit is a great challenge. Even though Peru commits to reducing GHG emissions by reducing LUC and improving agricultural and land use forestry practices, it needs policy improvements in relation to land tenure, governance, and equity. Potential explanations for the observed shortcomings include the fragmentation and duplication of government roles across sectors at both a national and regional scale.

Natural disasters, characterized by their escalating frequency and intensification, fueled relentlessly by the inexorable forces of climate change, unambiguously underscore the urgent need to reassess our built environments and meticulously revise infrastructure design to withstand the unforgiving onslaught of these extreme events, thereby demanding concerted attention and unwavering dedication from policymakers and academic researchers to navigate this formidable predicament. The current study delves into the exploration of how natural disaster impact the course of energy technology evolution. To achieve this, This investigation uses panel data from 1990–2020 and sophisticated econometric analyses to model the effect of calamities on energy technology advancement across BRICS countries. Rigorous empirical methodologies lend credibility regarding the observed detrimental impact of disasters on innovation. The preliminary findings of the investigation suggest that natural disasters potentially exert a markedly detrimental effect on energy technology innovation. This influence is not merely confined to the year of the disaster occurrence but persistently lingers for the subsequent 4-year period. Moreover, the adverse impacts of such environmental upheavals on energy evolution seem to be mitigated by various factors. These include robust economic growth, government stability, interpersonal globalization, financial openness, trade openness, and the expansion of social globalisation. Adding further dimension to this research is the understanding that epidemics have the most pronounced negative implications on energy innovation. Concluding on a nuanced note, the study underscores a significant inverse relationship between natural disasters and low-carbon energy innovation. Interestingly, however, there is no discernible correlation when it comes to non-low carbon energy innovation. In a nutshell, this research presents a potential reference guide for policymakers, illuminating pathways to enhance the degree of energy innovation while tackling natural disasters and ensuring environmental sustainability.

Ultrasound is a major medical imaging modality that is widely used in healthcare because of advantages such as the use of nonionizing radiation, ease of operation, real-time imaging from different perspectives, and low operation costs. The most common ultrasound modality produces two-dimensional images (2D) with a 1D-array transducer. However, in recent years, three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) imaging has become increasingly relevant. There are many reasons behind this shift. For example, 3D US images are easier to register with 3D images from another modality while patients undergo procedures or during presurgical planning. In particular, 3D freehand ultrasound (FUS) imaging yields 3D US images of large anatomical regions at low cost. An area of interest is scanned with a conventional 1D-array transducer, which is tracked with an attached device; the resulting 2D US images are input into a reconstruction algorithm; and the brightness values are assigned to a 3D image. Several 3D reconstruction algorithms in FUS imaging have been proposed and clinically used, and in the present work, we report a new neighbor search-based approach for reconstructing 3D FUS images based on hierarchical octrees with Morton key coding that can be implemented on GPUs using CUDA® kernels to exploit multithreading. Our approach achieves considerably faster throughput for high-resolution 3D images and can reconstruct 3D US images with dimensions of $128\times 128\times 128$ voxels in approximately 0.5 s. The proposed approach is a viable option for obtaining 3D US images in real time based on sets of freehand 2D ultrasound images acquired with 1D-array transducers.

Background: Efforts to increase acceptance and reduce avoidance behaviors in patients who suffer from chronic pain are likely to have additional beneficial effects on pain management. The primary aim of the current study was to evaluate whether a sequential approach to treatment, where acceptance-based coping strategies are taught prior to problem-focused coping strategies using manualized group therapies, improves pain-related outcomes. Methods: The current investigation is a single-group, longitudinal ex post facto study. A sample of 168 Veterans participated in the current study at a midwestern VA medical center. All participants were administered a standard pre- and post-intervention assessment battery. The primary outcome analysis was a 4 × 2 repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance. Results: The current study did not find a significant interaction effect for intervention x time but did find a significant main effect for time. All treatment conditions were associated with decreases in pain severity, pain interference, illness-focused coping strategies, catastrophizing behaviors, and global distress. Participation in both of the combined groups did not produce significantly different pain-related outcomes compared to participation in one group. Conclusion: These findings reinforce common factors theory in psychotherapy and provide insight into treatment dosage for patients who suffer from chronic pain. The current findings underline the importance of researching pain management, as it is a fundamental aspect of clinical practice, training, and research in rheumatology.

Wenjia Chen,1 Mohsen Sadatsafavi,2 Trung N Tran,3 Ruth B Murray,4 Chong Boon Nigel Wong,1 Nasloon Ali,4,5 Cono Ariti,4,5 Esther Garcia Gil,6 Anthony Newell,5,7 Marianna Alacqua,8 Mona Al-Ahmad,9 Alan Altraja,10 Riyad Al-Lehebi,11,12 Mohit Bhutani,13 Leif Bjermer,14 Anne Sofie Bjerrum,15 Arnaud Bourdin,16 Lakmini Bulathsinhala,4,5 Anna von Bülow,17 John Busby,18 Giorgio Walter Canonica,19,20 Victoria Carter,4,5 George C Christoff,21 Borja G Cosio,22 Richard W Costello,23 J Mark FitzGerald,24 João A Fonseca,25 Kwang Ha Yoo,26 Liam G Heaney,27 Enrico Heffler,19,20 Mark Hew,28,29 Ole Hilberg,30 Flavia Hoyte,31,32 Takashi Iwanaga,33 David J Jackson,34,35 Rupert C Jones,36 Mariko Siyue Koh,37,38 Piotr Kuna,39 Désirée Larenas-Linnemann,40 Sverre Lehmann,41 Lauri A Lehtimäki,42,43 Juntao Lyu,5,7 Bassam Mahboub,44,45 Jorge Maspero,46,47 Andrew N Menzies-Gow,48 Concetta Sirena,49 Nikolaos Papadopoulos,50,51 Andriana I Papaioannou,52 Luis Pérez de Llano,53,54 Diahn-Warng Perng,55,56 Matthew Peters,57 Paul E Pfeffer,58,59 Celeste M Porsbjerg,17 Todor A Popov,60 Chin Kook Rhee,61 Sundeep Salvi,62 Camille Taillé,63 Christian Taube,64 Carlos A Torres-Duque,65 Charlotte S Ulrik,66 Seung Won Ra,67 Eileen Wang,31,32 Michael E Wechsler,68 David B Price4,5,69 1Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; 2Respiratory Evaluation Sciences Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 3AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; 4Optimum Patient Care, Cambridge, UK; 5Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore; 6AstraZeneca, Barcelona, Spain; 7Optimum Patient Care, Queensland, VIC, Australia; 8AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK; 9Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Al-Rashed Allergy Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, Kuwait; 10Department of Pulmonology, University of Tartu and Lung Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia; 11Department of Pulmonology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 12College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 13Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta, Western Canada, AB, Canada; 14Department of Clinical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; 15Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Jutland, Aarhus, Denmark; 16PhyMedExp, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France; 17Respiratory Research Unit, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; 18Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland; 19Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Milan, Italy; 20Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy; 21Medical University-Sofia, Faculty of Public Health, Sofia, Bulgaria; 22Son Espases University Hospital-IdISBa-Ciberes, Mallorca, Spain; 23Department of Respiratory Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Smurfit Building Beaumont Hospital, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland; 24Department of Medicine, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 25Comunity Health, Information and Decision Sciences Department (MEDCIDS) & Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; 26KonKuk University School of Medicine in Seoul, Seoul, Korea; 27Wellcome-Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland; 28Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology Service, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; 29Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; 30Medical Department, Vejle University Hospital, Jutland, Vejle, Denmark; 31Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; 32Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; 33Center for General Medical Education and Clinical Training, Kindai University Hospital, Osakasayama, Japan; 34UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, UK; 35School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK; 36Research and Knowledge Exchange, Plymouth Marjon University, Plymouth, UK; 37Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; 38SingHealth Duke-NUS Lung Centre, Singapore, Singapore; 39Division of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy Medical University of &Lstrok;ód&zacute;, &Lstrok;ód&zacute;, Poland; 40Directora Centro de Excelencia en Asma y Alergia, Hospital Médica Sur, Ciudad de México, Mexico; 41Section of Thoracic Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; 42Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; 43Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; 44College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 45Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 46Clinical Research for Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, CIDEA Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 47University Career of Specialists in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Buenos Aires University School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 48Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals, London, UK; 49Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI), Milano, Italy; 50Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; 51Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 52 2nd Respiratory Medicine Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece; 53Pneumology Service, Lucus Augusti University Hospital, EOXI Lugo, Lugo, Spain; 54Biodiscovery Research Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; 55Division of Clinical Respiratory Physiology Chest Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 56COPD Assembly of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; 57Department of Thoracic Medicine, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 58Department of Respiratory Medicine, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK; 59Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK; 60University Hospital ”sv. Ivan Rilski”, Sofia, Bulgaria; 61Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea; 62Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation, Pune, India; 63Department of Respiratory Diseases, Bichat Hospital, AP-HP Nord-Université de Paris, Paris, France; 64Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen-Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany; 65CINEUMO, Respiratory Research Center, Fundación Neumológica Colombiana, Bogotá, Colombia; 66Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark; 67Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea; 68Department of Medicine, NJH Cohen Family Asthma Institute, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; 69Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UKCorrespondence: David B Price, Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, 22 Sin Ming Lane, &num;06 Midview City, Singapore, Singapore, 573969, Tel +65 3105 1489, Email dprice@opri.sgBackground: Many severe asthma patients with high oral corticosteroid exposure (HOCS) often do not initiate biologics despite being eligible. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of severe asthma patients with HOCS who did and did not initiate biologics.Methods: Baseline characteristics of patients with HOCS (long-term maintenance OCS therapy for at least 1 year, or ≥ 4 courses of steroid bursts in a year) from the International Severe Asthma Registry (ISAR; https://isaregistries.org/), who initiated or did not initiate biologics (anti-lgE, anti-IL5/5R or anti-IL4R), were described at the time of biologic initiation or registry enrolment. Statistical relationships were tested using Pearson’s chi-squared tests for categorical variables, and t-tests for continuous variables, adjusting for potential errors in multiple comparisons.Results: Between January 2015 and February 2021, we identified 1412 adult patients with severe asthma from 19 countries that met our inclusion criteria of HOCS, of whom 996 (70.5%) initiated a biologic and 416 (29.5%) did not. The frequency of biologic initiation varied across geographical regions. Those who initiated a biologic were more likely to have higher blood eosinophil count (483 vs 399 cells/μL, p=0.003), serious infections (49.0% vs 13.3%, p< 0.001), nasal polyps (35.2% vs 23.6%, p< 0.001), airflow limitation (56.8% vs 51.8%, p=0.013), and uncontrolled asthma (80.8% vs 73.2%, p=0.004) despite greater conventional treatment adherence than those who did not start a biologic. Both groups had similar annual asthma exacerbation rates in the previous 12 months (5.7 vs 5.3, p=0.147).Conclusion: Around one third of severe HOCS asthma patients did not receive biologics despite a similar high burden of asthma exacerbations as those who initiated a biologic therapy. Other disease characteristics such as eosinophilic phenotype, serious infectious events, nasal polyps, airflow limitation and lack of asthma control appear to dictate biologic use.Keywords: severe asthma, biologics, real-world, treatment pattern, patient characteristics

Background: Actinic keratosis is a common precancerous skin lesion that can progress into invasive squamous cell carcinomas. Many topical treatments for actinic keratoses often have poor tolerability and prolonged duration. Tirbanibulin is a novel synthetic drug with potent antitumor and antiproliferative activities. Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective and observational study using tirbanibulin ointment on a 25 cm2 area for 5 consecutive days on 30 participants with AKs on the face or scalp. They were followed for at least 57 days to assess the safety profile and efficacy of the drug as well as treatment satisfaction. We evaluated six signs of local skin reaction (LSR): erythema, scaling, crusting, swelling, blisters/pustules, and erosions/ulcerations, grading the severity as mild, moderate, or severe. The effectiveness was evaluated both clinically and dermoscopically. The treatment satisfaction was assessed using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM 1.4). Results: On day 57, 70% of the patients showed a complete clinical and dermoscopic response. The highest scores obtained from the TSQM 1.4 were more evident in the convenience and side effects domains. Most LSRs, including erythema (83.3%), scaling (30%), and swelling (3.3%), occurred on day 8 but resolved spontaneously. Conclusion: Tirbanibulin is a viable therapeutic option with a short regimen treatment and good tolerability, which favors therapy adherence.