The fear of being eaten can manifest as anxiety in prey species. In captive primates, anxiety-related behaviours (such as scratching and self-grooming) typically increase when exposed to a predator model. Despite this, it remains largely unknown whether the perception of predation risk can invoke anxiety, particularly in wild primates. We collected focal observations from adult females from two habituated groups of wild samango monkeys over a 12-month period to explore whether scratching increased in areas associated with higher perceived predation risk. To validate scratching as an anxiety-related behaviour, we compared the rates of scratching following an alarm call to a control period. We found scratching occurred significantly more often after an eagle alarm call relative to baseline levels, indicating this may be a reliable anxiety-related behaviour. We then used a generalised linear mixed model to predict the rate of scratching as a function of perceived predation risk and factors potentially associated with risk. Scratching increased in the summer months and towards the end of the day, but was not influenced by perceived predation risk. Our findings suggest that samangos may adopt other behavioural strategies to mitigate anxiety in ‘high-risk’ areas, and that anxiety may be reactive, rather than pre-emptive, in response to predation risk. We propose that scratching may be a useful indicator of reactive anxiety in wild primates and can help to improve knowledge on the environmental factors that induce acute stress in wild populations.

Understanding how chronic anthropogenic disturbances shape species interactions can enhance our ability to predict biodiversity resilience and guide conservation actions. Securidaca longepedunculata faces various stressors, including herbivory, which can negatively affect plant fitness by reducing growth, survival, and reproductive output. To investigate the impacts of anthropogenic and environmental stressors on herbivory in Securidaca longepedunculata, we conducted a survey of 270 plants across three populations in South Africa. Data collected were analysed by fitting a structural equation model. Our findings indicate that populations of S. longepedunculata closer to human settlements are most vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, and these pressures seem to promote insect herbivory, which further adds to the stress of the populations. Our findings further indicate that herbivory is intense at high elevations. Although this can be explained under the resource concentration hypothesis, it also fits into the recent general patterns, reporting the highest proportion of plants with glandular trichomes -- known for their contributions to chemical and physical defences against herbivorous insects -- at higher elevations. Overall, our study reveals the extent of a panoply of stressors that constrain the dynamics of the populations of S. longepedunculata. Further studies are needed to investigate how these stressors affect these dynamics.

Quick and effective steps are essential to save patients during life-saving surgery. Literature evaluations show hospitals using robotic chest compression manipulators to improve resuscitation. Emergency cardiac arrest patients are resuscitated via chest compressions. Just squeezing the chest is enough for CPR. Even qualified professionals may struggle to conduct chest compressions at the CPR recommended depth and rate. Automatic chest compressions did not outperform manual compressions in most studies and meta-analyses. The combination of robotics and automation improves patient survival. Gentle actuators and sensors can compression and discusses their potential drawbacks. The device will be handled for portability. By observing a human mannequin, the pressure will be adjusted. The goal is to perform as many high-quality compressions per minute up to 50 mm depth. Additional vibrational testing of air muscles gives better device balancing. The device will be suitable for any venue, not just hospitals. The pressure should be gentle, therefore we'll evaluate it. We will conduct experiments comparing mannequin and human arm readings compress the body. This study analyses soft sensing-actuation systems for interface to achieve the desired result. A solenoid valve regulates airflow while a microprocessor controls compression. Three pneumatically soft-actuated air muscle work together to compress 80-120 times per minute at 260 newton. The solenoid coil's deactivation duration is precisely controlled to 50 milliseconds to create compression depth equivalent to one-third of the mannequin's chest breadth. Research is needed to assure structural strength and test Tab software or a biological counterpart for safety features.

：In dense environments, it is challenging for multiple pursuers to capture an evader with an uncertain strategy. When the pursuers start from arbitrary initial positions rather than being evenly distributed around the evader, it becomes even more difficult for them to quickly approach and successfully coordinate to encircle the evader. To address this issue, we present a novel hierarchical framework to address the problem of multi-pursuer evader-approaching and encirclement in dense environments without any initial position constraint. At the high level, a novel task assignment method based on Dynamic Reallocate Review Consensus (DRRC) is proposed to reduce the intersection paths and further resolve allocation conflicts. At the low level, an effective distributed motion planning algorithm based on Follow the Optimal Gap Method (FOGM) is proposed, integrating adaptive safety factor and optimal reciprocal collision avoidance for multi-pursuer’ collision ‐free trajectories, guaranteeing that multi-pursuer can efficiently and safely encircle and capture the evader. Extensive simulation experiments in different hunting scenarios and two real-world experiments validate the applicability and practicability of our methods.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are essential tools for understanding the spatial dynamics of fish populations. Traditionally, SDMs estimate species abundance, biomass, or occurrence, either for entire populations or specific life stages, such as juveniles and adults. This study introduces a novel length-based spatially explicit SDM designed to estimate length frequency distributions (LFD) in continuous space. By integrating covariate-length and space-length correlations, the model provides a powerful tool for understanding spatial population structure dynamics. We describe the generalised length-based spatially explicit SDM and validate the model through simulation and apply it to a European hake ({\it Merluccius merluccius}, Merlucciidae) case study in the northeastern Atlantic, demonstrating its potential for real-world applications. We follow by discussing the utility of model-based LFD estimates, particularly in the fields of stock assessment, spatial fisheries management, climate change and ecosystem based fisheries management. Finally, we propose a number of model extensions departing from the proposed length-based SDM that could profoundly enhance our understanding of population dynamics and refine future fisheries management models.

The Riemann Hypothesis, proposed by Bernhard Riemann in 1859, conjectures that all non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function lie on the critical line ℜ ( s ) = 1 2 . This hypothesis is deeply connected to the structure of prime numbers and has profound implications in mathematics and physics. In this work, we present a proof grounded in symmetry and logical reasoning, deriving the zeta function from interconnected mathematical principles such as Euler’s product formula, Fourier analysis, and modular forms. We establish that the symmetry of the zeta function about the critical line is an inherent property arising from its analytic continuation and functional equation. Additionally, a proof by contradiction demonstrates that any deviation from this symmetry results in inconsistencies across multiple mathematical domains. This logical framework affirms the inevitability of the hypothesis, offering a unified perspective based on established mathematical truths.

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is essential for B cell functions. Its role in myeloid cells is less understood. More insights into its significance in myeloid cells are required to evaluate its potential as therapeutic target in the effector phase of antibody-induced autoimmune diseases when inhibiting the production of autoantibodies can suppress tissue inflammation only time delayed. Such situation can be found, e.g., in acute flares of pemphigoid diseases, a group of autoimmune blistering skin diseases. We examined the effect of neutrophil-specific Btk gene deficiency and of the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib on disease in the antibody-transfer model of bullous pemphigoid (BP)-like epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), a model solely reflecting the effector phase. We additionally investigated the effect of BTK inhibitors on responses of neutrophils relevant for autoimmune diseases in vitro. Both neutrophil-specific genetic deficiency of Btk and ibrutinib vastly protected from skin inflammation. Stimulation of murine neutrophils with immune complexes activated BTK and induced the release of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Deficiency in Btk nullified LTB4 but not ROS release indicating differences in the cell signaling cascades regulating the release of LTB4 and ROS upon Fcγ receptor activation signaling. Collectively, our results indicate that skin inflammation in EBA is critically controlled by a Fcγ receptor – BTK – LTB4 axis in neutrophils. This highlights BTK as promising drug target to treat EBA and potentially other antibody-induced autoimmune disease.

A numerical tool is developed to simulate the random vibration-response-only based fatigue delamination diagnosability for thermoplastic coupons, that is the ability to both detect damage and identify its current severity. The numerical tool employs the FE method. It comprises two modules: a fatigue delamination module and a random vibration module. The first module implements a fatigue crack growth model based on the cohesive zone modeling method to predict delamination accumulation, while the second module uses an experimentally verified FE model of the delaminated coupon to predict its random vibration response. Delamination accumulation is evident in the ‘predicted’ FE-based power spectral densities. The model’s capability to diagnose delamination was demonstrated using seven different damage metrics based on simulated random vibration responses. Comparisons with their experimentally obtained counterparts are also used in the assessment. It is demonstrated that as fatigue progresses, the damage metrics exhibit an increasing trend which is instrumental in distinguishing each fatigue state from its counterparts. The procedure clearly suggests that the proposed numerical tool may be reliably used for virtually assessing the efficacy of random vibration-based fatigue damage diagnosability for any given structure, but also to aid the user to select the method’s parameters for virtual diagnosability optimization.

Background: Objective gait analysis is valuable in diagnosing and managing equine lameness. Computer vision-based algorithms offer accessible alternatives for equine gait analysis but require thorough accuracy and precision assessment under diverse conditions. Objectives: To evaluate a proprietary vision-based algorithm’s accuracy and precision in measuring vertical displacement signals (VDS) at the eye, withers, and croup, alongside groundline estimation, for horses trotting on straight lines and circles under field conditions. Study Design: Experimental comparative study against manually annotated references. Methods: We obtained 67 recordings from 37 horses. A vision-based algorithm and independently manual annotation produced 2D anatomical keypoints on all frames of the recordings, which were processed to estimate a groundline and compute VDS and stride-based maxima (Maxdiff) and minima (Mindiff) vertical differences. No stride exclusions were applied. Mean signed error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare detected and annotated data. Results: At the stride level (n = 1556), the overall mean absolute errors (MAEs) for both Maxdiff and Mindiff were 4.3 mm. The eye keypoint exhibited the lowest errors (2.9 mm Maxdiff, 3.0 mm Mindiff), while the withers error was 5.5 mm for both Maxdiff and Mindiff, and the croup showed 4.3 mm (Maxdiff) and 4.4 mm (Mindiff). Trial-level (n=67) analysis, with below optimal number of strides per trial in this study, revealed lower overall absolute differences (Eye: 2.3 mm, Withers: 3.7 mm, Croup: 2.7 mm) indicating consistent performance across multiple strides. Eye keypoint accuracy was higher on circles than on straight lines, whereas the withers and croup performed comparably under both conditions. Main Limitations: Groundline estimation accuracy was stress-tested on treadmill data in another study. Further clinical comparison with established gait analysis systems is recommended. Conclusions: The algorithm robustly measured vertical displacements under varied conditions, supporting a clinical and field-based utility.

Background: Equine lameness diagnosis largely relies on subjective visual assessments, which can be biased. Although marker-based methods, force plates, and inertial measurement units (IMUs) provide objective measurements, they require specialized setups. Vision-based algorithms offer a portable, markerless alternative, but their accuracy needs thorough testing. Objectives: To evaluate a custom vision-based algorithm for estimating the groundline across multiple camera angles, including handheld use in horses trotting on a treadmill. Study design: Experimental comparative study. Methods: Eight Standardbred trotter mares were recorded trotting on a high-speed treadmill using seven iPhones positioned at various heights and angles, including a handheld device. A trained deep neural network algorithm placed 2D keypoints on each video frame. Vertical Displacement Signals (VDS) for the eye, withers, and croup were computed relative to either an algorithm-estimated or a fixed treadmill groundline. Maximum (Maxdiff) and minimum (Mindiff) stride values were compared using Bland-Altman analysis, scatter plots, and histograms. The effect of handheld use on variability and accuracy was assessed by comparing results from a handheld camera to those from a static camera. Results: Groundline estimation closely matched the fixed reference, exhibiting near-zero mean angle error and low mean average error (MAE = 0.45°; n = 242.192). Maxdiff and Mindiff stride-level (n = 36.981) MAE were 0.5 mm, with clinically acceptable additional variability introduced by handheld use at the trial level (Maxdiff and Mindiff MAE < 1.8 mm; n = 357). Main limitations: Treadmill-based data and a single breed/coat colour may limit generalizability to other settings. Conclusions: The vision-based algorithm accurately estimates the groundline and stride VDS parameters from various camera setups, including handheld. Further validation in diverse environments and against other objective gait analysis systems is recommended.

Breaking the mold! A rare lung neoplasm in childhoodTo The Editor,A previously healthy 8-year-old Caucasian male presented to his primary care provider (PCP) for evaluation of cough and fever for 1 month. A viral respiratory panel detected rhinovirus/enterovirus, and a chest X-ray obtained was concerning for a right middle lung nodule measuring 1.3 centimeters (cm) by 1.4 cm, without calcification (Figure 1A-B). The remainder of the lung fields were normal. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast redemonstrated the nodule in the right upper lobe, now described as a lobulated solid nodule without calcification or fat, extending from the parenchyma to the pleural surface measuring 1.5 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm (Figure 1C), without any lymphadenopathy.Patient was referred to pulmonary. His onset of fever occurred around the time that the family moved into a new home where mold exposure was detected. Overall, the fevers were low grade between 100.4- 101 F and sporadic. Cough was described as dry and had been improving since his PCP visit. No other pertinent medical or environmental history other than a paternal history of BRCA1 gene pathogenic variant was noted. The examination was normal and a full set of pulmonary function testing including basic spirometry, plethysmography, and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), which were all normal for age.The patient was referred to infectious disease, where he underwent a comprehensive workup. Evaluation included inflammatory markers, CBC, fungal antibody panel (histoplasma, blastomycoses, aspergillus, and coccidioides by complement fixation and immunodiffusion), histoplasma IgM/IgG EIA, histoplasma antigen (blood and urine), tuberculosis interferon gamma release assay, cat scratch disease antibodies, uric acid, and lactate dehydrogenase. Results were all within normal limits, except for an intermediate histoplasmosis EIA IgM. Repeat testing three weeks later was negative for histoplasma IgM EIA and remained negative for histoplasma antibody by IgG EIA, immunodiffusion, and complement fixation. Collectively, these results indicated a low probability of acute histoplasmosis or other infectious etiology.The decision to proceed with a biopsy was conferred. Patient underwent CT guided needle biopsy by interventional radiology and tolerated the procedure well. The sample obtained was three 1 cm 18-gauge cores. Pathologic analysis revealed a lesion with small spaces lined by cuboidal cells with hyperchromatic, hobnail nuclei resembling pneumocytes, containing focal papillary structures. The stroma was focally fibrotic and, in some areas, round to oval larger, paler cells were found. Both cell populations appeared positive for Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) staining (Figure 1E-F). Both of these stainings are used to detect lung epithelial cells. Overall, these findings were consistent with pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP).The patient was referred to cardiothoracic surgery for excisional biopsy. A video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) wedge resection was performed and well tolerated. The nodule was successfully removed with clear negative margins (Figure 1D). Histologic evaluations demonstrated similar findings as those observed in the biopsy specimen. Considering that AKT1 pathogenic variants have been reported in many cases of PSP, the patient’s tumor and blood were subjected to Somatic Disease/Germline Comparator Exome (SDGC) testing that identified a somatic AKT1 variant [c.236_243delins AKT1- NM_001382430.1] and a germline pathogenic variant in BRCA1 [c.4182_4183dup BRCA1- NM_007294.4]. The germline BRCA1 variant correlated with that in the father who had not developed any neoplasm, and in a paternal aunt with breast carcinoma. He remains in good health 3 months following resection.This unique case highlights a rare benign lung tumor and a further atypical patient demographic considering the propensity of PSP to occur in middle-aged Asian women. Previously known as pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma, it was first described in 1956 by Liebow and Hubbell1, due to belief that these tumors were sclerosing variants of hemangiomas2. However, recent immunohistochemical studies strongly suggest the origin from respiratory epithelium, particularly type II pneumocytes. Most recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified these to adenomas/epithelial tumors1.This condition is typically diagnosed in the fifth decade of life with a high female predominance (female:male ratio of 5:1) and more commonly found in the Asian population. Most patients are asymptomatic (50-70%) with tumors incidentally detected on chest imaging1. However, when symptoms are present, they present commonly hemoptysis, cough, or chest pain1,3. Despite the common occurrence in middle-aged individuals, there are reports of occurrence in children as young as 1 years old3.PSP is often considered as a solitary, peripheral, well-defined, homogenous nodule with rare cases of bilateral presentation. There are no pathognomonic radiological characteristics for PSP. On a gross examination, lesions appear as well-circumscribed, firm tan masses that usually measure 0.3-7 cm in size with focal areas of hemorrhage, usually located close to the pleural surface1. Occasionally, they contain areas of calcification and may even show an air-meniscus sign: crescentic radiolucency at the periphery of a lung nodule2. PSP is histologically characterized by the presence of two cell types: cuboidal surface epithelial cells and round stomal cells. The surface cells resemble type 2 pneumatocytes2,4 and both cell populations have identical immunophenotype with expression of EMA and TTF-1. The principal growth patterns encountered include: papillary, solid, angiomatoid, sclerotic, or a combination of these four patterns2,5,6.Genomic studies found recurrent pathogenic variants in AKT1 , which encodes a protein kinase in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway6. Although these variants occur in 78% of PSP cases, it is relatively uncommon in human neoplasm, found only in 1.6% of all cancers. The mTOR pathway is an intracellular signaling pathway that plays a critical role in regulation of the cell cycle4,5. Given this evidence, it seems AKT1 pathogenic variants are particularly responsible for most of the aberrant cell signaling that drive PSP pathogenesis4,5. The AKT1 variant was identified in our patient.Even though PSP is a rare benign neoplasm, it does have a rare potential to metastasis to the lymph nodes, especially to mediastinal and hilar nodes. One reported case series even suggested that younger male patients are more likely to metastasize5. However, hematogenous spread has not been detected in patients to date. Given the risk of metastasis, limited resection is highly recommended, which is curative without the need for adjunctive therapies1.Eric S. Mull, DOab, Rachel Gaudio, DOab, Brent Adler, MDc, Sergio A. Carrillo, MDd, Jonathan R. Honegger, MDeb, Rachel Supinger MS, LGCf, Nicoleta C. Arva, MD, PhDg, Miriam Conces, MDg, Melanie Babcock, PhDbgi, Nathan Fagan, MDh, Grace R. Paul, MDabaDivision of Pulmonary Medicine;bDepartment of Pediatrics;cDepartment of Radiology;dDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery;eDivision of Infectious Diseases;fDivision of Pediatric Genetics;gDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine;hDepartment of Interventional Radiology;iThe Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbus, OhioInstitution: Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Columbus, OHFunding Source: NoneFinancial Disclosure: NoneConflicts of Interest: NoneConsent: Obtained and on fileIRB: Reviewed and letter of exemption on filePer my institution’s policy:“For a case report (1-2 cases), an investigator does not need prior IRB review and approval if: (a) the records accessed are available to the investigator for clinical reasons (i.e., they or direct colleagues were involved in the care of this patient), (b) the records being reviewed contain data that were collected as part of routine clinical care (i.e., this policy does not deal with the use of existing research databases), and (c) the data are reviewed in a retrospective manner (because knowing upfront that a case report may be written could potentially lead to additional evaluations being done which would not have been obtained for clinical care reasons). If any of these do nothold, then the case report needs to be reviewed and approved by the IRB.For any case series or case report (regardless if IRB reviewed or not), every reasonable attempt should be made by the author to contact the patient and/or family or the primary caregiver of the patient so as to inform them of the proposed publication. If applicable, the author must comply with the patient’s/family’s request not to publish the report OR to present the case in a more deidentifiable manner. HIPAA may still apply to case reports. Please contact the Privacy Office (privacyoffice@nationwidechildrens.org) for guidance and possible patient authorization required.” (pages 7-8)Reference:Manickam R, Mechineni A. Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma: An Essential Differential Diagnosis for a Lung Nodule. Cureus. 2022 Jan 10;14(1):e21081.Bara A, Adham I, Daaboul O, Aldimirawi F, Darwish B, Haffar L. Sclerosing pneumocytoma in a 1-year-old girl presenting with massive hemoptysis: A case report. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2021 Jan 8;62:49-52.Pal P, Chetty R. Multiple sclerosing pneumocytomas: a review. J Clin Pathol. 2020 Sep;73(9):531-534.Boland JM, Lee HE, Barr Fritcher EG, Voss JS, Jessen E, Davila JI, Kipp BR, Graham RP, Maleszewski JJ, Yi ES. Molecular Genetic Landscape of Sclerosing Pneumocytomas. Am J Clin Pathol. 2021 Feb 11;155(3):397-404.Boland JM, Lee HE, Barr Fritcher EG, Voss JS, Jessen E, Davila JI, Kipp BR, Graham RP, Maleszewski JJ, Yi ES. Molecular Genetic Landscape of Sclerosing Pneumocytomas. Am J Clin Pathol. 2021 Feb 11;155(3):397-404.Nasr Y, Bettoli M, El Demellawy D, Sekhon H, de Nanassy J. Sclerosing Pneumocytoma of the Lungs Arising in a Child With PTEN Mutation. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2019 Nov-Dec;22(6):579-583.

Significance: Endothelial c-Myc plays a critical role in redox homeostasis, with its deletion potentially exacerbating oxidative stress, particularly during chemotherapy. Aim: To assess the metabolic impact of endothelial c-Myc knockout (KO) and doxorubicin (DOXO) treatment on kidneys, hearts, and livers using 3D optical cryo-imaging. Approach: Redox ratios (NADH/FAD) were analyzed in control (CT) and KO mice treated with DOXO or saline to evaluate mitochondrial function and oxidative states. Results: KO tissues showed significant reductions in redox ratios, indicating an oxidized state, with kidneys exhibiting up to a 51.42% decrease. DOXO treatment further exacerbated oxidative stress in KO tissues, while CT groups demonstrated protective effects. Conclusions: Endothelial c-Myc is crucial for redox balance and protection against chemotherapy-induced oxidative damage, offering insights for targeted therapeutic strategies.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has shown efficacy in treating lung diseases, with low cost and no side effects. This study evaluated the effects of PBMT and radiant energy on pulmonary inflammation in an experimental model of OVA-induced asthma in mice. Inflammation was induced by sensitization with OVA and orotracheal challenge, followed by diode laser irradiation at different times (10s, 30s, 50s, 75s). After 24 hours, inflammatory, functional, and structural parameters were analyzed. PBMT reduced pulmonary inflammation by decreasing eosinophils and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) and increasing IL-10 levels. An increase in regulatory cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+IL-10+) was also observed, indicating an immunomodulatory effect. The therapy also reduced mucus and collagen deposition in the airways, particularly in the groups treated with 3J and 5J, improving pulmonary function and attenuating chronic inflammation.

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor and Epithelioid Sarcoma Associated with Von Recklinghausen Disease: A Case ReportSadiksha Khadka,1 Ganesh Giri,2Dalim Kafle,11Division of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal 2Division of Internal Medicine, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, New Yorkkey clinical messageNeurofibromatosis type 1(NF-1) is an autosomal hereditary neurocutaneous syndrome marked by clinical features of neurofibromas, cafe-au-lait spots, osseous lesions, optic path glioma, axillary or inguinal freckles and lisch nodules. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPSNT), often associated with NF-1, is a soft tissue sarcoma originating from peripheral nerve sheath, known for its aggressive nature and low survival rates. Epithelioid sarcoma, a soft tissue sarcoma mostly occurring in extremities with potential distant and local metastasis also poses significant risk in individuals with NF-1.A 23-year-old male with NF-1 presented with right leg pain and gluteal swelling, ultimately diagnosed with epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Clinical examination revealed NF-1 features and a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, leading to wide local excision and adjuvant radiotherapy. We present this case to emphasise the necessity of robust monitoring to ensure early detection and treatment intervention of these orphan malignant tumors in NF-1 patients.

We evaluated the transduction efficacy of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene under three distinct promoters—CAG, synapsin, and the mouse choline acetyltransferase (Chat) promoter—in cholinergic and parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons within the medial septal area of mice and rats. We quantified the proportion of Chat-positive and PV+ neurons expressing GFP in both species. In mice, the CAG and synapsin promoters demonstrated extremely low efficacy for GFP expression in Chat-positive neurons but were highly effective in transducing PV+ neurons. In contrast, these promoters were equally effective in transducing both Chat-positive and PV+ neurons in rats. The Chat promoter yielded moderate GFP expression in cholinergic neurons in mice, with negligible expression in PV+ neurons, though it also led to off-target expression in other cell types. In rats, the Chat promoter produced moderate GFP expression in both cholinergic and PV+ neurons; however, the majority of GFP-expressing cells were unrelated to these specific neuronal subtypes.

A document by Tiago Silva Jesus. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims for comprehensive healthcare coverage and workforce nationalization. However, physician distribution and composition disparities threaten these goals, affecting access and quality of healthcare services. Objectives This study examines physician-to-population ratios and workforce composition across 20 Saudi Arabian health regions, focusing on potential disparities. Methods A secondary analysis utilized the Ministry of Health’s 2022 Statistical Yearbook. Physician distribution and composition were explored using descriptive statistics, the Gini Coefficient, and a Lorenz curve. Results Findings reveal significant imbalances. While Riyadh, the capital region, hosts the largest physician count, its large population yields a lower physician-to-population ratio, reflecting significant service provision challenges. Al-Jouf and Northern regions exhibit higher ratios, indicating better balance. Non-Saudi physicians remain prominent, especially in Bishah and Najran, suggesting a need for stronger Saudization policies. Conclusion These findings underscore notable disparities in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare workforce distribution that can hinder Vision 2030 goals. Therefore, strategic interventions, including Saudization, educational reforms, regional healthcare clusters, and workforce development programs, are critical to aligning service demand with a sustainable supply of qualified professionals across all regions.

Urbanization is a significant source of inter- and intra-city environmental variation and is associated with declining population sizes that are increasingly homogeneous. However, whether this shift extends to urban disease ecology and related parasite communities, requires further examination. By comparing the prevalence and diversity of two related parasite genera (host-generalist Plasmodium and host-specialist Haemoproteus) in dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) populations across an urbanization gradient in California, we can determine how broad urban-associated land use changes and localized habitat composition correlate with pathogen communities. Additionally, by examining vector abundance responses, we can begin to assess broader impacts on urban disease transmission and ecology. We report Haemoproteus prevalence decreased in urban habitats, with a larger presence of host-generalist lineages, suggesting urbanization increases homogenization of host-specialist pathogens. Unsurprisingly, the host-generalist pathogen, Plasmodium, showed no correlation with urbanization but prevalence increased with rainfall. Local habitat characteristics had limited effects on Plasmodium infection prevalence, but moderate shrub coverage and low human presence were associated with Plasmodium infections. Lastly, Culex tarsalis, an important vector for Plasmodium and zoonotic diseases, was the only vector to also increase in abundance in response to rainfall. Our results show that broad land use changes associated with urbanization decrease avian parasite biodiversity and highlight localized abiotic and biotic habitat characteristics that may reduce infection prevalence.

Fundamental to species conservation efforts are an understanding of habitat relationships, development of accurate distribution models, and risk factor assessments. Achieving these tasks is challenging for non-marque stream organisms where limited funding often necessitates compilation of incidental observations from multiple sources which lack an overall sampling design. Compounding matters, appropriate statistical techniques for flow directed networks like streams and the unique forms of spatial dependence that may arise among such observations are necessary. We aggregated a comprehensive presence-absence dataset for Idaho giant salamander (Dicamptodon aterrimus), a species of conservation concern that inhabits mountain streams across a restricted range in western North American and linked these data to geospatial habitat covariates. The dataset was modeled using spatial-stream-network models (SSNM) which account for autocorrelation and results were compared to non-spatial generalized linear models (GLM). The classification accuracy of salamander observations was higher with SSNMs than GLMs (90.8% versus 63.2%) and the spatial models identified fewer significant habitat relationships (four versus seven), which simplified model interpretation. The top-ranked SSNM and GLM were used to predict range-wide occurrence probabilities for scenarios representing historical baselines and futures associated with two significant model covariates (water temperature and riparian tree canopy density) that are changing with environmental trends in the study area. Baseline range estimates from the models were similar (13,090–14,114 stream km) and both predicted small range expansions (2.0% to 24.8%) with warming because many streams were sub-optimally cold for Idaho giant salamander. However, these expansions were partially or entirely offset in future scenarios which included decreases in riparian canopy density. Although the Idaho giant salamander does not appear to be at acute risk, a monitoring program for tracking future changes would be beneficial and could leverage the large dataset compiled for this study as well as spatially-explicit predictions from SSNMs.

Seeking online social support has become increasingly common due to widespread use of social media; however, little is known about the experiences of women survivors of sexual trauma who engage with online sexual trauma-related content and whether this has implications for physical and mental health. This mixed-methods study examined somatic and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among 173 women (Mage = 37) with a history of unwanted sexual contact, comparing those who engaged with online trauma-related content to those who did not. Women were asked about their online experiences to gain a better understanding of their perceptions of engagement with this content via an online survey, which also included measures of somatic symptoms, PTSS, stress reactivity, emotion regulation, mindfulness and meaning made. Many identities were represented in the sample (17% non-cisgender, 35% non-heterosexual, and 34% racial/ethnic minorities). Results revealed that meaning-making was associated with fewer somatic symptoms, while stress reactivity predicted greater PTSS and somatic symptoms among women engaging with online sexual trauma related content. Qualitative findings identified three themes with corresponding subthemes: (1) Intrapersonal experiences (positive affective experiences, negative affective experiences, meaning making, skill development), (2) Interpersonal experiences (healing through community, barriers to interpersonal interaction, disengagement from community), and (3) Engagement with the online modality. Results underscore the clinical importance of addressing social media use in trauma recovery and inform the development of trauma-informed, evidence-based digital tools for survivors.

The rise in cancer, autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious diseases in recent decades has led to a surge in the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) therapies, now the most widely used family of biologics. To meet the growing global demand, biopharmaceutical industries are intensifying their production processes. One approach to achieve more efficient production of effective mAbs is to develop tools for real-time quality monitoring. Specifically, the glycosylation profile of mAbs must be closely monitored, since it greatly impacts their therapeutic efficacy and innocuity, making it a critical quality attribute. In this study, we developed a surface plasmon resonance-based integrated assay allowing for the simultaneous quantification and glycosylation characterization of mAbs in crude samples, hence permitting the at-line analysis of bioreactor cell cultures. Thanks to the high specificity of the interaction between biosensor surface-bound protein A and the Fc region of mAbs, we quantified crude IgG samples under mass transport limitations. Next, by flowing running buffer on the surface, impurities contained in the mAbs samples were washed away from the biosensor surface, allowing subsequent recording of the kinetics between the captured mAbs and injected FcγRII receptors. Of interest, with this strategy, we were able to quantify terminal galactosylation and core fucosylation of IgG lots, two important glycan modifications for mAb efficacy.

Mismatch negativity (MMN), first described by Risto Naatanen in the late 1970s, is now known as a key brain phenomenon, reflecting its ability to detect differences in the presented sensory stimuli. Although MMN has been widely studied in both humans and other mammals, the phenomenon has also been increasingly examined in non-mammalian species in recent years. Here, we discuss the role of MMN as an evolutionarily conserved phenotype across taxa, and its translational significance in neuroscience. Despite challenges in studying MMN in non-mammalian species (especially due to methodological limitations and differences in sensory processing), these model organisms offer important insights into brain sensory and cognitive processing that can have further clinical implications in diagnosing and treating brain disorders.

River restoration is a multibillion-dollar industry, but oversight, assessment requirements, and frameworks remain disparate. This study examines the case of the Little Thompson River (Colorado, USA), a mountain stream disturbed by a 2013 flood (500-year recurrence interval) and subsequently reconstructed for flood mitigation. We compare the Restored Site to a Reference tributary impacted by the flood event, allowing for an assessment of stream recovery under different scenarios. Results suggest the Reference Site has an equilibrium among ecogeomorphic variables, while the Restored Site does not. The Restored Site had a step-pool/pool-riffle design but a plane-bed slope (0.023 m/m). Grain-size analysis showed a distribution (D 50 = 55 mm and D 90= 126 mm) not mobilized by typical flows (e.g., 2-year), and typical flows (>2-year) do not inundate the floodplain region. The Reference Site had expected pool-riffle morphology and grain size (slope = 0.013 m/m; D 50 = 38 mm and D 90 = 108 mm), is mobilized by typical flows, and the floodplain region inundates at flows >2-year. Vegetation surveys show that only Salix and naturally recruited Populus are thriving at the Restored Site, while the Reference Site has a denser and more diverse plant community. Our study suggests allowing for natural recruitment of Populus, focusing on cheap/simple Salix plantings, and preserving seed banks where possible could aid future restoration projects. Our results raise questions about the efficacy of channel construction and revegetation efforts in post-flood restoration of a mountain stream and highlight simple recommendations for future restoration projects.

Amyand’s hernia: confrontation with the atypicality and case report.Authors: Bhatta Sunil1, Ansari Meraj Alam21-Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.Address: Dhangadhi-5, Kailali, NepalEmail: bhattasunil26@gmail.com (corresponding author)Phone number: +9779849366618ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7871-34892-Department of General surgery, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.Address: Dhangadhi-5, Kailali, NepalEmail: meraj.ansari1100@gmail.comPhone number: +9779851100870Data availability statement : Data described to support the findings is openly accessible in the article.