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Although intense research effort is seeking to address which brain areas fire and connect to each other to produce complex behaviors in a few living primates, little is known about their evolution, and which brain areas or facets of cognition were favored by natural selection. By developing statistical tools to study the evolution of the brain cortex at the fine scale, we found that rapid cortical expansion in the prefrontal region took place early on during the evolution of primates. In anthropoids, fast-expanding cortical areas extended to the posterior parietal cortex. In Homo, further expansion affected the medial temporal lobe and the posteroinferior region of the parietal lobe. Collectively, the fast-expanding cortical areas in anthropoids are known to form a brain network producing mind reading abilities and other higher-order cognitive functions. These results indicate that pursuing complex cognition drove the evolution of Primate brains.

The fundamental trade-off between current and future reproduction has long been considered to result in a tendency for species that can grow large to begin reproduction at a larger size. Due to the prolonged time required to reach maturity, estimates of tree maturation size remain very rare and we lack a global view on the generality and the shape of this trade-off. Using seed production from five continents, we estimate tree maturation sizes for 486 tree species spanning tropical to boreal climates. Results show that a species' maturation size increases with maximum size, but in a non-proportional way: the largest species begin reproduction at smaller sizes than would be expected if maturation were simply proportional to maximum size. Furthermore, the decrease in relative maturation size is steepest in cold climates. These findings on maturation size drivers are key to accurately represent forests' responses to disturbance and climate change.

Abstract Although intense research effort is seeking to address which brain areas fire and connect to each other to produce complex behaviors in a few living primates, little is known about their evolution, and which brain areas or facets of cognition were favored by natural selection. By developing statistical tools to study the evolution of the brain cortex at the fine scale, we found that rapid cortical expansion in the prefrontal region took place early on during the evolution of primates. In anthropoids, fast-expanding cortical areas extended to the posterior parietal cortex. In Homo, further expansion affected the medial temporal lobe and the posteroinferior region of the parietal lobe. Collectively, the fast-expanding cortical areas in anthropoids are known to form a brain network producing mind reading abilities and other higher-order cognitive functions. These results indicate that pursuing complex cognition drove the evolution of Primate brains.

This publication provides an overview of dengue fever, focusing on its epidemiological landscape in Florida. Dengue, caused by dengue virus and transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, is a major global health concern. Florida has experienced local dengue transmissions, and the incidence of dengue is increasing in the state. The biology and ecology of the primary vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, play important roles in the disease's transmission cycle. No vaccine and no specific antiviral treatments are yet available, and diagnosis is difficult because dengue symptoms overlap with those of other, similar febrile illnesses. Prevention and control strategies, such as mosquito management, are therefore crucial to mitigate disease risks. Alongside urbanization, climate change, and globalization, incidence of dengue is increasing in Florida. Continued vigilance and research will help to combat this public health threat.

El surgimiento de México como Estado nación se produjo, como en otras regiones europeas y de Latinoamérica, a costa de su diversidad cultural y geográfica. La formulación de una historia nacional aparejada al proyecto del Estado nación se extendió en un proceso de más de 200 años, en que se entendió que la cultura y el patrimonio eran un todo homogéneo y monolítico. En este artículo se hace un recorrido de ese proceso, desde su tiempo inaugural hasta su consolidación en el periodo posrevolucionario, para luego identificar la crisis que se suscitó a partir de finales del siglo XX en que entró en escena un panorama multicultural y se fracturó el status quo del Estado nación y la unidad cultural. Como respuesta a esto, la aparición de los contramonumentos como elementos de rememoración se da en el contexto del reconocimiento de la alteridad y multiplicidad de identidades. La reflexión y cuestionamiento a los procesos de valoración y selección del patrimonio se hace presente ante su desvinculación con la sociedad actual.

This publication is intended for both the general public and mosquito control professionals. It outlines the use of the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis as a tool to control mosquito populations and reduce the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Biting mosquitoes transmit many pathogens that cause deadly diseases in people, our pets, and our livestock. Collectively, malaria, dengue, West Nile, filariasis, and other mosquito-borne diseases result in millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Effective vaccines for most of these have not been developed or are not yet available to the general public, and disease management is focused on controlling mosquito populations. Insecticides have become less effective over the past fifty years as mosquito populations all over the world have developed resistance. This has driven scientists to explore new options for controlling mosquitoes, including using the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis.

Introducción: la Histología no siempre tuvo el lugar que ocupa hoy en los planes de estudio de la carrera de Medicina, su enseñanza se ha modificado en el transcurso de las décadas con el fin de adaptarse a las necesidades del perfil del egresado. Objetivo: fundamentar los elementos teóricos relacionados con el origen y evolución de la enseñanza de la Histología, así como sus tendencias en el contexto educativo moderno. Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica a través de las bases de datos SciELO, MEDLINE, y el motor de búsqueda Google académico. Las palabras claves utilizadas fueron: enseñanza de la Histología, tendencias en la enseñanza de la Histología, historia de la Histología. Se recuperaron 50 publicaciones, fueron seleccionadas 24 ajustadas a la temática y el objetivo propuesto. Desarrollo: se delimitaron tres núcleos temáticos: el origen de la Histología e inicio de su enseñanza, evolución en Cuba y el mundo, hasta llegar a las tendencias actuales en la enseñanza de esta ciencia, incluyendo metodologías y recursos tecnológicos utilizados en el contexto educativo contemporáneo. Además, los autores emitieron criterios acerca de las posibilidades de aplicación de la microscopía virtual, la clase invertida y el aprendizaje basado en problemas en la educación médica superior cubana. Conclusiones: la enseñanza de la Histología en la educación médica superior ha evolucionado desde modelos centrados en el profesor con la ayuda de la microscopía óptica, hasta las tendencias pedagógicas actuales, centradas en el estudiante y favorecidas por las nuevas tecnologías de la informática y las comunicaciones.

This study provides a comprehensive structural, chemical, and optical characterization of CZTS thin films deposited on flexible Kapton substrates via the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method. The investigation explored the effects of varying deposition cycles (40, 60, 70, and 80) and annealing treatments on the films. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated enhanced crystallinity and phase purity, particularly in films deposited with 70 cycles. These films exhibited a notable reduction in secondary phases in the as-deposited state, with further improvements observed after annealing at 400 °C and 450 °C in a sulfur atmosphere. A pole figure analysis indicates a decrease in texture disorder with annealing, suggesting improved crystalline orientation at higher temperatures. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed enhancements in surface morphology, with increased grain size and uniformity post-annealing. Chemical uniformity was confirmed through Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). XPS revealed the presence of CZTS phases alongside oxidized phases. Annealing effectively reduced secondary phases, such as ZnO, SnO2, CuO, and SO2, enhancing the CZTS phase. An optical analysis demonstrated that annealing at 200 °C in an air atmosphere reduced the band gap from 1.53 eV to 1.38 eV. In contrast, annealing at 400 °C and 450 °C in a sulfur atmosphere increased the band gap to 1.59 eV and 1.63 eV, respectively. The films exhibited p-type conductivity, as inferred from a valence band structure analysis. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the observed band gap variations, further substantiating the findings.

Background/Objectives: Pathophysiological variability in patients with cancer is associated with differences in responses to pharmacotherapy. In this work, we aimed to describe the demographic characteristics and hematological, biochemical, and coagulation variables in a large oncology cohort and to develop, optimize, and provide open access to modeling equations for the estimation of variables potentially relevant in pharmacokinetic modeling. Methods: Using data from 1793 patients with cancer, divided into training (n = 1259) and validation (n = 534) datasets, a modeling network was developed and used to simulate virtual oncology populations. All analyses were conducted in RStudio 4.3.2 Build 494. Results: The simulation network based on sex, age, biogeographic origin/ethnicity, and tumor type (fixed or primary factors) was successfully validated, able to predict age, height, weight, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, albumin, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase serum levels, platelet–lymphocyte and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios, and hematocrit. This network was then successfully extrapolated to simulate the laboratory variables of eight oncology populations (n = 1200); only East Asians, Sub-Saharan Africans, Europeans, only males, females, patients with an ECOG performance status equal to 2, and only patients with pancreas cancer or ovarian cancer. Conclusions: this network constitutes a valuable tool to predict relevant characteristics/variables of patients with cancer, which may be useful in the evaluation and prediction of pharmacokinetics in virtual oncology populations, as well as for model-based optimization of oncology treatments.

Increased interest in the study of the relationships between human and nonhuman animals over the past few decades has often focused on what factors shape people’s attitudes and treatment towards nonhuman animals. Some scholars have focused on features of the nonhuman animals (cuteness, intelligence, and utility) and how those features predict human behavior while others have concentrated more on possible human individual differences that influence their attitudes and positive or negative actions towards nonhuman animals. In this study, with 978 participants from five different cross-cultural study sites (Arizona, California, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Spain), we utilized three superordinate categories of animal species representing three “Concentric Circles” surrounding our own (from Kith-Kin, to Domestic, to Wild Animals) to investigate the influence of individual differences and local ecological conditions on empathy and harm avoidance scores across these categories. Specifically, these variables were as follows: (1) a set of variables representing the cross-cultural study sites; (2) a second set of sociodemographic predictors; (3) a developmental Animal Exposure factor; (4) a Dark Inventory factor; (5) an Interpersonal Aggression factor; (6) a KithKin-Empathy factor, measuring emotional and cognitive empathy towards Kith-Kin animals; (7) a Domestic-Empathy factor, measuring emotional and cognitive empathy towards Domestic animals; (8) a Wild-Empathy factor, measuring emotional and cognitive empathy towards Wild animals; and (9) a Harm Avoidance factor. A Cascade Model approach allowed us to integrate many factors (individual differences and local ecological conditions) together in explaining empathy and harm avoidance that have previously been examined only in mutual isolation.

Rationale: Increased aridity has led to drought-induced mortality or loss of health for many tree species. Of particular interest is to explore the response of the Mediterranean tree species cork oak (Quercus suber) to this declining phenomenon due to its severity and its large implications for the local economy and the provision of highly relevant ecosystem services. Approach: To assess geographical variations in the response to water stress, we analyzed under controlled conditions the effects of four watering levels and the resistance to a terminal drought on seedlings collected from nine populations covering the complete latitudinal distribution of the species. We explored the response of a number of physiological traits and markers of oxidative stress potentially related with drought-resistance. Findings: We found a highly plastic phenotypic response of most variables to water availability and a large influence of seedlings provenance in the drought-resistance strategies. Although the oxidative stress enzymes ruled out differential water stress throughout the distribution range, we found that seedlings from the southern limit are less vulnerable to drought than other populations. Southern seedlings adapted to xeric conditions displayed a larger sensitivity of stomata to changes in soil humidity and a higher water use efficiency. These physiological local adaptations coupled with larger acorn size in the southern populations, resulted in larger aboveground biomass and higher drought resistance at the southern distribution edge. Conclusions: Our data suggest that this evergreen tree species relies on its physiological plasticity to develop adaptative features that allows it to overcome water shortage and that southern populations hold genetic diversity that could improve the specie´s adaptation in the forecasted drought context with relevant implications for conservation programs.

Abstract In this study, we investigate how the terrestrial-aquatic transition influenced patterns of axial integration and modularity in response to the secondary adaptation to a marine lifestyle. We use 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify shape covariation among presacral vertebrae in pinnipeds (Carnivora; Pinnipedia) and to compare with patterns of axial integration and modularity in their close terrestrial relatives. Our results indicate that the vertebral column of pinnipeds has experienced a decrease in the strength of integration among all presacral vertebrae when compared to terrestrial carnivores (=fissipeds). However, separate integration analyses among the speciose Otariidae (i.e., sea lions and fur seals) and Phocidae (i.e., true seals) also suggests the presence of different axial organizations in these two groups of crown pinnipeds. While phocids present a set of integrated “thoracic” vertebrae, the presacral vertebrae of otariids are characterized by the absence of any set of vertebrae with high integration. We hypothesize that these differences could be linked to their specific modes of aquatic locomotion –i.e., pelvic vs pectoral oscillation. Our results provide evidence that the vertebral column of pinnipeds has been reorganized from the pattern observed in fissipeds but is more complex than a simple “homogenization” of the modular pattern of their close terrestrial relatives.

Abstract Cannabis, the most prevalent drug in Latin America, has long been associated with the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, known for its cultivation and distribution. Despite increasing global acceptance, cannabis use remains stigmatized in Mexican society, driven by perceptions of it as a highly psychoactive and addictive substance lacking medicinal or industrial value. This study investigates the impact of scientific information on societal perceptions of cannabis in Sinaloa. A large convenience sample of 3162 individuals from Sinaloa participated in this research, responding to a questionnaire on cannabis consumption and attitudes. Participants were then subjected to an intervention consisting of an informative briefing based on the documents “Using Evidence to Talk About Cannabis” and “State of the Evidence: cannabis use and regulation" by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. After the intervention, participants' attitudes were immediately reevaluated through the same questionnaire, allowing for a comparison of pre- and post-intervention responses. The results indicate that the intervention (providing scientific information) significantly influenced attitudes toward cannabis, with education and age playing prominent roles in its effectiveness. Notably, the intervention fostered more positive or more neutral attitudes, potentially reducing stigma and promoting a better-informed perspective on cannabis. This study highlights the pivotal role of evidence in shaping informed citizens' views, while underscoring the importance of countering misinformation for societal progress. These findings have significant implications for forthcoming cannabis policy modifications in Mexico, emphasizing the necessity of engaging knowledgeable individuals in policy decisions to address the violence and inequalities associated with the illicit drug trade, particularly in Sinaloa.

Introduction: endometrial carcinoma is among the leading causes of cancer in women and is the second most common gynecological neoplasm worldwide. Through morphometry it is possible to corroborate whether the subjective morphological interpretation and the grading obtained have been correct. Objective: to morphometrically describe the nucleus of the neoplastic cells of endometrioid carcinoma. Methods: a developmental, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional investigation was carried out at the “Mariana Grajales” Gynecobstetric Hospital in the period from November 2018 to September 2022. The sample consisted of 221 endometrial biopsy slides: 211 with diagnosis of endometrioid carcinoma and 10 of normal endometrial tissue. Results: the nuclear area and perimeter and the largest and smallest nuclear diameters had the maximum values in endometrioid carcinoma, and the mean and standard deviation of each of these morphometric parameters was greater in the carcinomatous cells. The relationship between the histological diagnosis and the circularity of the nucleus had statistical significance. Conclusions: there are quantitative differences between the morphometric variables of the normal endometrium and those of the endometrioid carcinoma, the lowest values of the morphometric parameters were observed in the glandular cells of the normal endometrium while the highest values were observed in the endometrioid carcinoma.

Background/Objectives: Puerto Ricans (PRs) face significant challenges in accessing essential parenting resources and support due to language barriers and lack of culturally appropriate healthcare services, perpetuating health disparities. Cultural adaptation of psychosocial measurement tools is crucial for promoting health equity and improving health outcomes. This study describes the cultural adaptation of two parenting discipline assessment measures for use with Spanish-speaking PR mothers of 2–4-year-old children. Methods: We used a community-engaged, mixed-methods approach to measurement adaptation that involved independent translations (n = 2), back-translations (n = 2), and an adaptation committee (n = 6, including all translators) who reviewed, appraised, and modified survey versions. We conducted cognitive interviews (n = 20) to pretest the semi-finalized Spanish measures and assess mothers’ understanding of survey items. Results: Mothers had a mean age of 28.6 years. Most were married/cohabitating (70%), had a high school diploma or GED (90%), and a household income of less than $40,000 (68%). Indexed children’s mean age was 2.9 years, with most identified by mothers as female (60%). Feedback from the adaptation committee and pretesting participants led to specific changes like rephrasing culturally specific terms and adjusting examples to better fit the daily experiences of PR mothers. Most mothers found the Spanish version of the measures to be clear and culturally relevant. This cultural adaptation process addressed translation inconsistencies and design issues, and better captured culturally relevant discipline practices. Conclusions: Engaging communities in measurement adaptations ensures culturally and linguistically tailored measures that respect participant preferences, strengthen partnerships, and enable interventions to address health disparities, thereby promoting child health.