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Introduction: Increasing incidences for fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) have been reported and surgical treatment remains demanding. While conventional screw osteosynthesis is a common method, complications may arise due to altered bone morphology in the osteoporotic pelvic bone. The iFuse implant system is a novel implant, first introduced for treatment of degenerative sacroiliac joint dysfunction, which offers promising biomechanical characteristics with potential benefits for treatment of FFP. Yet data on the use for FFP is limited. The objective of this study is to compare early postoperative mobility of patients treated with screw osteosynthesis only versus patients treated with additional iFuse stabilization based on insole force sensor gait analysis. We hypothesized that additional iFuse implantation leads to superior postoperative mobility. Materials and methods: In the prospective observational study, 37 orthogeriatric patients with FFP types II-IV were included. Postoperative mobility of patients treated with conventional screw osteosynthesis only (group 1) and patients with additional iFuse implantation (group 2) was compared. Mobility was examined using insole force sensors (Loadsol®, Novel GmbH). Results: Postoperative comparison of gait analysis showed no significant difference in average (APF) and maximum peak force (MPF) between group 1 (n = 19, APF 64.9% ± 13.3, MPF 76.0% ± 14.1) and group 2 (n = 18, APF 67.6% ± 9.9, MPF 78.2% ± 10.1). Gait symmetry measured by FTI (force–time integral) ratio was significantly higher in group 2 (48.5% ± 3.3) than in group 1 (44.9% ± 5.4; p = 0.023). Median Barthel Index was higher in group 2 (55) compared to group 1 (45), yet not significantly (p = 0.058). Postoperative pain levels showed no significant differences between both groups. Conclusion: Comparison of early postoperative mobility showed similar mobility outcomes in both groups. Patients with additional iFuse implantation had a more balanced gait pattern, whereas no significance was found in peak force parameters. Additional iFuse implantation showed promising results regarding patient mobility, therefore our hypothesis was partly confirmed. In future long-term examinations with larger patient cohorts should be aimed for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery of endangered species is challenging and lengthy, especially when it involves reintroduction and dynamic environmental conditions. Because managers often need to decide between many management strategies with uncertain outcomes, periodically assessing progress toward recovery using population viability analysis (PVA) can help guide decision‐making. We developed a PVA for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) to evaluate current status and potential future management strategies to reach goals set in the Recovery Plan. Having grown from their nadir of 13 birds in 1976 to 686 in 2021, the recovery effort has made great progress. Using 15 years of data, we built an individual‐based PVA that included interactions between two captive and three wild populations connected via annual releases. If management continues as planned, the wild populations have no to moderate risks of extinction (0–32%) over the next 100 years. However, wild populations remain dependent on releases to sustain growth, and recovery targets for stable population growth and connectivity have not yet been reached. Our analysis suggests that hurricanes are an impediment to reaching recovery targets and impact some wild populations more than others based on geography. Projections with climate‐change‐induced higher hurricane impact resulted in wild populations being less likely to stabilize. We identified demographic rates and associated management strategies that could positively impact wild populations: increasing reproduction (e.g., via increasing artificial nests, improving nest success) and decreasing first‐year mortality (e.g., via targeted predator control). Based on our current understanding of Puerto Rican parrot demographics, species recovery will continue to be management‐dependent unless demographic rates can be altered. As more data are gathered, especially for data‐sparse populations and in the face of environmental change, future iterations of this model can re‐evaluate progress, update management strategies, and provide support for deciding if and when to delist this iconic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fireflies can be the focus of an effective program to teach the public about insect behavior and bioluminescence. Photinus carolinus, a synchronously flashing species of firefly, is found at high elevations in the southern Appalachian mountains. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they produce a spectacular flash display each June known locally as 'the Light Show.' A workshop for adults organized around the 'Light Show' has been used to teach about natural history and physiology, conservation biology, and issues of public policy. The workshop compresses instruction, slides, demonstrations, audience participation, experiments, and videos into one 3-hour classroom session. This prepares participants for an evening field trip. The four hour field trip starts with a walk at dusk through Elkmont. Here, the natural history, ecology, and political history of the area are presented. This is followed by a guided walk to an area for viewing the Ph. carolinus synchronous flash behavior as well as several additional species of Photinus, Photuris, and Phausis. Sometimes, on-going scientific experiments are viewed as well. Participants are also exposed to other bioluminescent phenomena such as foxfire, Phengodes, glow in the dark mushrooms and bioluminescent fungus gnat larvae. Experience has shown that, though limited to a single day, this workshop provides interested individuals with the basic tools to observe the nocturnal environment and appreciate fireflies, insects, behavior, ecology, and conservation biology. Additionally, this workshop has also served as a template for a modified curriculum that focuses on fireflies, synchrony, and natural history. These programs can be presented throughout the year.

BackgroundModerate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) offers extensive health benefits but is neglected by many. As a result, a wide body of research investigating physical activity behavior change has been conducted. As many of these studies transition from paper-based methods of MVPA data collection to fitness trackers, a series of challenges arise in extracting insights from these new data. ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to develop a framework for preprocessing and extracting MVPA trends from wearable fitness tracker data to support MVPA behavior change studies. MethodsUsing heart rate data collected from fitness trackers, we propose Physical Activity Trend eXtraction (PATX), a framework that imputes missing data, recalculates personalized target heart zones, and extracts MVPA trends. We tested our framework on a dataset of 123 college study participants observed across 2 academic years (18 months) using Fitbit Charge HRs. To demonstrate the value of our frameworks’ output in supporting MVPA behavior change studies, we applied it to 2 case studies. ResultsAmong the 123 participants analyzed, PATX labeled 41 participants as experiencing a significant increase in MVPA and 44 participants who experienced a significant decrease in MVPA, with significance defined as P

In strongly correlated materials, the presence of defects may fundamentally affect both macroscopic and microscopic properties of the system. Here we investigate the effect of Gd substitution in the Kondo antiferromagnet CeRhIn5. At a concentration of only 11% Gd, the magnetic anisotropy of CeRhIn5 is drastically reduced at high temperatures, whereas its antiferromagnetic transition, TNCe=3.8 K, is linearly suppressed with Gd at low temperatures. The extrapolation of TNCe to zero temperature occurs at a critical concentration of xc~0.63, which is above the two-dimensional percolation limit found in Ce1-xLaxRhIn5 (xc~0.4), but very close to the three-dimensional percolation limit found in Gd1-xLaxRhIn5 and Ce1-xLaxIn3 (xc~0.65), in agreement with the more isotropic magnetic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]