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Abstract Urban green spaces (UGS) provide mechanisms through which people connect and interact with each other, strengthening social relationships as well as human‐nature connections, both of high relevance for sustainable development. However, what determines urban residents' engagement in activities for the protection of UGS still lacks a systematic understanding. Our study aims to address this gap by enriching the value‐belief‐norm (VBN) theory with relational values based on a questionnaire (N = 221) among residents engaging in UGS maintenance in the city of Munich (Germany). Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling showed that both individual responsibility and societal responsibility guide urban residents in their actions towards UGS protection. Furthermore, we found a direct impact of biospheric, altruistic and hedonic values on engagement for the protection of UGS. Therefore, this study signals the importance of investing in actively promoting pluralistic values among urban residents as cities today urgently need a reconnection of the human‐nature relationship and UGS stewardship actions. As we further confirm that relational values have impact on the constructs of the VBN theory, we conclude with a plea for recognizing the potential of relational values as enablers of change towards more responsible behaviours towards urban nature. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The integration of precision medicine in the care of hospitalized children is ever evolving. However, access to new genomic diagnostics such as rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) is hindered by barriers in implementation. Michigan's Project Baby Deer (PBD) is a multi-center collaborative effort that sought to break down barriers to access by offering rWGS to critically ill neonatal and pediatric inpatients in Michigan. The clinical champion team used a standardized approach with inclusion and exclusion criteria, shared learning, and quality improvement evaluation of the project's impact on the clinical outcomes and economics of inpatient rWGS. Hospitals, including those without on-site geneticists or genetic counselors, noted positive clinical impacts, accelerating time to definitive treatment for project patients. Between 95-214 hospital days were avoided, net savings of $4155 per patient, and family experience of care was improved. The project spurred policy advancement when Michigan became the first state in the United States to have a Medicaid policy with carve-out payment to hospitals for rWGS testing. This state project demonstrates how front-line clinician champions can directly improve access to new technology for pediatric patients and serves as a roadmap for expanding clinical implementation of evidence-based precision medicine technologies.

Synthetic colorants are widely used globally by different industries for the dyeing process. However, these chemicals pollute the environment and affect human health by causing allergies, hives, dermatitis, and cancer. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of duckweed (Lemna minor) in the removal of the Methylene Blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) dyes at different concentrations (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, and 15 mg/L). Absorbance values were determined at 665 nm for MB and 497 nm for CR after 96 hours. The results show higher removal of MB compared to CR for all concentrations (95.49 % vs. 59.32%, 1 mg/L; 97.24% vs. 39.43%, 5mg/L; 91.30% vs 28.47%, 10mg/L; y 85.42% vs 20.27%, 15mg/L). The removal of MB was observed after 30 min of contact with duckweed, while the removal of CR was observed after 24 hours in all concentrations.

Abstract N-linked glycosylation is a critical post translational modification of eukaryotic proteins. N-linked glycans are present on surface and secreted filarial proteins that play a role in host parasite interactions. Examples of glycosylated Brugia malayi proteins have been previously identified but there has not been a systematic study of the N-linked glycoproteome of this or any other filarial parasite. In this study, we applied an enhanced N-glyco FASP protocol using an engineered carbohydrate-binding protein, Fbs1, to enrich N-glycosylated peptides for analysis by LC-MS/MS. We then mapped the N-glycosites on proteins from three host stages of the parasite: adult female, adult male and microfilariae. Fbs1 enrichment of N-glycosylated peptides enhanced the identification of N-glycosites. Our data identified 582 N-linked glycoproteins with 1273 N-glycosites. Gene ontology and cell localization prediction of the identified N-glycoproteins indicated that they were mostly membrane and extracellular proteins. Comparing results from adult female worms, adult male worms, and microfilariae, we find variability in N-glycosylation at the protein level as well as at the individual N-glycosite level. These variations are highlighted in cuticle N-glycoproteins and adult worm restricted N-glycoproteins as examples of proteins at the host parasite interface that are well positioned as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers.

ABSTRACT Bovine tritrichomonosis is a venereal disease that causes economic losses around the world. Over the last 100 years, the life cycle of the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus in bovines has only considered venereal transmission, almost exclusively through natural mating from an infected animal to a healthy animal. Here, we provide the first direct evidence that T. foetus can survive the passage through the gastrointestinal tract in bovines. We demonstrated that the parasite can be discharged by feces in orally infected animals and contaminate the cow’s reproductive tract. We showed that the parasite is capable of surviving at pH conditions usually found along the bovine gastrointestinal tract, and our findings suggest that the parasites could survive in bovine feces and water for several days, probably through the formation of resistant pseudocysts or cyst-like structures. Taken together, our results demonstrate that T. foetus is more resistant to adverse external conditions than previously considered, which could be relevant for the life cycle of this parasite in bovines. IMPORTANCE Nowadays, the routine herd diagnosis is usually performed exclusively on bulls, as they remain permanently infected, and prevention and control of Tritrichomonas foetus transmission are based on identifying infected animals and culling practices. The existence of other forms of transmission and the possible role of pseudocysts or cyst-like structures as resistant forms requires rethinking the current management and control of this parasitic disease in the future in some livestock regions of the world.

Abstract Livestock depredation by brown bears is one of the main source of human–wildlife conflict in rural Eastern Europe. Thus, identifying environmental and anthropogenic drivers of human–bear conflict, and developing spatial predictions for predation intensity are critical to mitigate such conflicts. We used 756 records of bear‐caused livestock predation collected between 2008 and 2016 in the Romanian Carpathians and evaluated predictors and spatial distribution of bear livestock predation events (BPEs) using separate binomial generalized linear mixed models for cows, sheep, and other livestock. Despite differences in the direction and magnitude of the effect, the prevalence of BPE for all livestock was driven by the interaction between environmental drivers along with relative bear abundance. Distance from forest was a strong negative predictor for cows and sheep, while distance to villages was a strong negative predictor for cows. Landscape heterogeneity was positively associated with cow and other livestock predation and negatively associated with sheep. Relative bear abundance data collected by wildlife managers was a positive predictor for predation on all livestock. Livestock damage was more prevalent near villages, showcasing plasticity of food resources sought by bears. Our work informs brown bear and livestock management strategies to develop awareness and implement damage prevention measures.

Abstract Human–wildlife interactions (HWIs) are increasingly common human disturbances as development continues to remove wildlife habitats. Documenting HWI is critical for environmental protection agencies to develop strategies and management decisions that meet the needs of both people and wildlife. However, evaluation of the frequency and types of HWI at broad spatial scales (e.g., national or regional level) can be costly and difficult to implement by managers. In this study, we apply a novel method for the evaluation of patterns of HWI in urban areas by using publicly available data from emergency calls (ECs) placed by inhabitants of Romania's urban areas. We used information from 4601 ECs placed at the Romanian National Emergency Call System 112, which consisted of (1) wildlife species, (2) spatial location, (3) date and time, and (4) a short description of the emergency. Of the 318 analyzed cities, 300 cities documented ECs on HWI between 2015 and 2020, with roe deer and brown bear being the most frequently mentioned species. We recorded an increasing trend in HWI‐related ECs in 73% of the urban areas over the five‐year period. We mapped the large‐scale distribution of HWI by species and type of interactions in order to capture variations at the national level. Further, we analyzed the social and the biophysical factors potentially influencing the occurrence and frequency of HWI. The results showed that social factors have the same effect on all species, while the effect of the biophysical factors varied between species. Particularly, the presence of large natural habitats, represented by forests, influenced the number of calls only for brown bears. Seminatural landscapes with agricultural land have a different influence in terms of effect and significance for the considered species. Our results suggest that publicly available data from ECs can be used for the rapid assessment of HWI and for evaluating trends and predictors of HWI at broad spatial scales.

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Abstract Background Health disparities are pervasive and are linked to economic losses in the United States of up to $135 billion per year. The Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions (FCHES) is a Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for health disparities research funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic impact of the 5-year investment in FCHES in Genesee County, Michigan. Methods The estimated impacts of FCHES were calculated using a U.S.-specific input/output (I/O) model, IMPLAN, from IMPLAN Group, LLC., which provides a software system to access geographic specific data regarding economic sector interactions from a variety of sources. This allowed us to model the cross-sector economic activity that occurred throughout Genesee County, Michigan, as a result of the FCHES investment. The overall economic impacts were estimated as the sum of three impact types: 1. Direct (the specific expenditures impact of FCHES and the Scientific Research and Development Services sector); 2. Indirect (the impact on suppliers to FCHES and the Scientific Research and Development Services sector); and 3. Induced (the additional economic impact of the spending of these suppliers and employees in the county economy). Results The total FCHES investment amounted to approximately $11 million between 2016 and 2020. Overall, combined direct, indirect, and induced impacts of the total FCHES federal investment in Genesee County included over 161 job-years, over $7.6 million in personal income, and more than $19.2 million in economic output. In addition, this combined economic activity generated close to $2.3 million in state/local and federal tax revenue. The impact multipliers show the ripple effect of the FCHES investment. For example, the overall output of over $19.2 million led to an impact multiplier of 1.75 – every $1 of federal FCHES investment led to an additional $.75 of economic output in Genesee County. Conclusions The FCHES research funding yields significant direct economic impacts above and beyond the direct NIH investment of $11 million. The economic impact estimation method may be relevant and generalizable to other large research centers such as FCHES.

RMS most commonly presents in children and adolescents, however a subset of tumors are diagnosed in infants under one year of age. Due to the rarity of infant RMS, utilization of different treatment approaches and goals, and small sample sizes, the published studies of infants with RMS have yielded heterogeneous results. In this review, we discuss the outcomes of infants with RMS treated in various clinical trials and the strategies that various international cooperative groups have employed to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to treatment without compromising the overall survival of this population. This review discusses the unique scenarios of diagnosing and managing congenitals or neonatal RMS, spindle cell RMS and relapsed RMS. This review concludes by exploring novel approaches to diagnosis and management of infants with RMS that are currently being studied by various international cooperative groups.

Abstract The BLL lectin from the edible Japanese “Kurokawa” mushroom (Boletopsis leucomelaena) was previously reported to bind to N-glycans harboring terminal N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and to induce apoptosis in a leukemia cell line. However, its gene has not been reported. In this study, we used a transcriptomics-based workflow to identify a full-length transcript of a BLL functional ortholog (termed BGL) from Boletopsis grisea, a close North American relative of B. leucomelaena. The deduced amino acid sequence of BGL was an obvious member of fungal fruit body lectin family (Pfam PF07367), a highly conserved group of mushroom lectins with a preference for binding O-glycans harboring the Thomsen–Friedenreich antigen (TF-antigen; Galβ1,3GalNAc-α-) and having two ligand binding sites. Functional characterization of recombinant BGL using glycan microarray analysis and surface plasmon resonance confirmed its ability to bind both the TF-antigen and β-GlcNAc-terminated N-glycans. Structure-guided mutagenesis of BGL’s two ligand binding clefts showed that one site is responsible for binding TF-antigen structures associated with O-glycans, whereas the second site specifically recognizes N-glycans with terminal β-GlcNAc. Additionally, the two sites show no evidence of allosteric communication. Finally, mutant BGL proteins having single functional bindings site were used to enrich GlcNAc-capped N-glycans or mucin type O-glycopeptides from complex samples in glycomics and glycoproteomics analytical workflows.

Durante los últimos años en Panamá se ha venido incrementado la contaminación acústica, la cual, aunque puede parecer inofensiva, logra alcanzar niveles tan elevados, afectando progresivamente la salud de las personas. Por esta razón, tanto en espacios cerrados, como abiertos es necesario monitorizar los decibeles del ruido. Los sistemas expertos permiten representar conocimientos de expertos, lo cual facilita la toma de decisiones más precisa. Una de las técnicas para la construcción de sistemas expertos es mediante el concepto de lógica difusa. En este artículo se presenta el prototipo de un sistema experto basado en lógica difusa para la monitorización del ruido y un mecanismo de alerta en espacios educativos. El sistema desarrollado plantea la utilización de técnicas de inteligencia artificial para la toma de decisión y mecanismos de salidas que actúan como alertas, concretamente mediante semáforos de estados, indicando el nivel de ruido captado. En este trabajo se presenta la problemática, un prototipo del sistema experto funcional, y los resultados obtenidos de las pruebas realizadas.

The integration of precision medicine in the care of hospitalized children is ever evolving. However, access to new genomic diagnostics such as rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) is hindered by barriers in implementation. Michigan’s Project Baby Deer (PBD) is a multi-center collaborative effort that sought to break down barriers to access by offering rWGS to critically ill neonatal and pediatric inpatients in Michigan. The clinical champion team used a standardized approach with inclusion and exclusion criteria, shared learning, and quality improvement evaluation of the project’s impact on the clinical outcomes and economics of inpatient rWGS. Hospitals, including those without on-site geneticists or genetic counselors, noted positive clinical impacts, accelerating time to definitive treatment for project patients. Between 95–214 hospital days were avoided, net savings of $4155 per patient, and family experience of care was improved. The project spurred policy advancement when Michigan became the first state in the United States to have a Medicaid policy with carve-out payment to hospitals for rWGS testing. This state project demonstrates how front-line clinician champions can directly improve access to new technology for pediatric patients and serves as a roadmap for expanding clinical implementation of evidence-based precision medicine technologies.

Este artículo presenta el prototipo de sistema inteligente basado en patrones de ondas cerebrales para prevenir accidentes de tránsito, que, mediante un sensor colocado en la cabeza del conductor, monitoriza los patrones de ondas cerebrales los cuales son enviados en tiempo real vía Bluetooth a una placa Raspberry Pi para ser procesados con estrategias de aprendizaje automático y de esta forma enviar una alerta visual y sonora cuando detecta el estado de somnolencia en el conductor. Para la construcción del prototipo se recogieron datos de cuatro personas en tres estados distintos, mientras estaban despiertas, somnolientas y dormidas. El conjunto de datos fue procesado con cuatro algoritmos de aprendizaje supervisado: vecinos más cercanos, máquina de soporte vectorial, árboles de decisión, bosques aleatorios; siendo este último el que mejores resultados mostró alcanzando un 82.05% de precisión al diferenciar los tres estados anteriormente mencionados. El costo estimado del sistema es de 210 USD, resultando un sistema económico con relación a otros existentes en el mercado.

Drastic growth in the amount of global food waste produced is observed every year, not only due to incessant population growth but also economic growth, lifestyle, and diet changes. As a result of their increasing health awareness, people are focusing more on healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Thus, following worldwide fruit and vegetable consumption and their processing in various industries (juice, jams, wines, preserves), significant quantities of agro-industrial waste are produced (pomace, peels, seeds) that still contain high concentrations of bioactive compounds. Among bioactive compounds, anthocyanins have an important place, with their multiple beneficial effects on health; therefore, their extraction and recovery from food waste have become a topic of interest in recent years. Accordingly, this review aims to summarize the primary sources of anthocyanins from food waste and the novel eco-friendly extraction methods, such as pulsed electric field extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques will also be covered to encourage future studies and opportunities focusing on improving these extraction techniques.

Las señales generadas por la actividad eléctrica producida en el cerebro humano, además de ser utilizadas en el área de medicina para el diagnóstico de enfermedades, pueden ser de gran ayuda en otros campos, como lo son las ciencias computacionales. Esta investigación propone la utilización de señales cerebrales como mecanismo de control, empleando técnicas de inteligencia artificial. La misma tiene como objetivo principal construir un prototipo de una prótesis de mano robótica impresa en 3D, controlada a través del procesamiento de señales cerebrales, utilizando redes neuronales recurrentes. Mediante una metodología de prototipado se entrenaron y compararon tres arquitecturas distintas de redes recurrentes (RNN simple, LSTM y GRU), entrenadas a partir de datos de trece personas, utilizando el sensor no invasivo Mindwave Mobile 2 para la adquisición de estos. La primera versión, desarrollada en un periodo aproximado de tres meses, alcanzó una precisión del 77% al clasificar nuevas muestras utilizando el modelo de red GRU. Este prototipo, al ser una primera aproximación y requerir mayor tiempo de investigación y desarrollo, puede ser de gran utilidad a futuro para personas que así lo necesiten, brindándoles una mayor calidad de vida.