The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system is vital for modern air traffic control, enhancing both safety and efficiency. However, its lack of encryption and authentication introduces significant security risks. One major threat is the ADS-B spoofing attack, where attackers manipulate the ICAO address in ADS-B messages to create fake aircraft or impersonate trusted ones, potentially misleading pilots and air traffic controllers and leading to dangerous maneuvers. To address these challenges, we propose the Revin-Discrete Cosine Patch Attention (RDPA)—a novel method leveraging the RevIn mechanism, Discrete Cosine Transform, and patch mechanism within a Transformer architecture. This approach is specifically designed to detect spoofing attacks within ADS-B data that traditional analyses might overlook, including deceptive maneuvers mimicking normal flight behavior, sudden deviations in flight paths, and inconsistencies in transmitted data, all of which pose substantial risks to airspace security. Our RDPA model has been rigorously tested on large-scale ADS-B datasets, including simulated deceptive maneuvers across various flight stages such as departing, maneuvering, and landing. Experimental results show that RDPA excels in detecting spoofing attacks with high accuracy, achieving an F1-score of 99.09\%, significantly outperforming existing methods. This highlights RDPA’s potential as a crucial tool for enhancing air traffic security.

Urbanisation has reduced the abundance and diversity of many taxonomic groups, and the effects may be more pronounced on islands, which have a smaller regional species pool to compensate. Green spaces within urban environments may help to safeguard wildlife assemblages, and the associated habitat heterogeneity can even increase species diversity. Here, total abundance and species diversity of butterflies, birds, and vegetation at nine rural and nine urban locations were quantified on Lipsi Island, Greece. Sites were assessed using Pollard walks for butterflies, point-count surveys for birds, and quadrats for vegetation. There was no significant difference in the abundance or species diversity of butterflies or vegetation among rural and urban locations, which could pertain to the low building density within urbanised areas and the minimal extent of urbanisation on the island. However, urban areas hosted a significantly greater abundance and richness of birds compared to rural sites. The community composition of butterflies, birds, and vegetation also differed significantly between urban and rural locations, highlighting the impact of urbanisation on species across a broad range of trophic groups. This study contributes to ecological knowledge on the impacts of urbanisation across multiple trophic levels in island ecosystems, with comparisons across a gradient of island size and urbanisation intensity needed in future research.

Objective: Currently, the neural mechanisms underlying the topological changes in the brains of individuals with depressive tendencies and the decline in their emotion regulation abilities remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study investigates resting-state brain network characteristics in college students with depressive tendencies (DT) and their preference to cognitive reappraisal strategies. Method: A group of 38 DT students and 41 healthy controls (HCs) were assessed using questionnaires on cognitive reappraisal sub-strategies, followed by alpha and beta frequency band EEG feature extraction. Results: Through complex network analysis, significant reductions in cognitive reappraisal preferences were noted among DT participants compared to HCs, alongside abnormalities in brain network centrality, particularly in the frontal and limbic lobes across different frequency bands. A significant correlation was found between the preference for cognitive reappraisal in DT participants and significant changes in graph indices. Conclusions: The findings highlight substantial alterations in the resting-state brain networks of DT individuals, closely associated with cognitive reappraisal strategy preferences. These alterations may affect emotion regulation strategy choices, offering insights into the neural mechanisms of emotional regulation difficulties in DT.

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used anti-epileptic and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily metabolized by glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Few drug interactions are known to affect VPA levels, including carbamazepine, phenytoin, and carbapenems. We report a new drug that interacts with VPA: flucloxacillin. Case Presentation: A 79-year-old male with bipolar disorder, treated with VPA, presented with low VPA serum levels during treatment for S. aureus bacteraemia with flucloxacillin. His VPA levels decreased rapidly, despite no apparent explanation. Serial assessments ruled out nonadherence and absorption issues. Flucloxacillin was identified as the probable cause, as VPA levels normalized upon its cessation and dropped again with reintroduction. Discussion: This case illustrates a significant drug-drug interaction between flucloxacillin and VPA, likely mediated by induction of UGT enzymes rather than CYP enzymes. The rapid onset and resolution of the interaction suggest UGT induction as the primary mechanism. Probably, patients with a low albumin are more susceptible to this interaction, like our patient, due to increased metabolism. Conclusion: Flucloxacillin treatment substantially decreases total VPA serum levels while free fraction levels can be still within reference values. Clinicians should consider monitoring free fraction and adjusting dosages accordingly in bipolar disorder. If VPA is used for epilepsy, alternative antibiotics to flucloxacillin should be preferred.

Cyanobacteria developed oxygenic photosynthesis and represent the phylogenetic ancestors of chloroplasts. The model strain Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 grows as filaments of communicating cells and can form heterocysts, cells specialized for N 2 fixation. In the Anabaena genome, ORF all2390 is annotated as encoding a SulA homolog, but sequence similarity to SulA of model bacteria is unsignificant. We generated strains that lacked or overexpressed all2390, both of which showed instances of increased cell size, and observed that purified All2390 protein interfered with the in vitro polymerization of FtsZ. Heterocyst frequency diminished by all2390 inactivation and increased by all2390 overexpression. Overexpression retarded the dismantlement of Z-ring structures that sets commitment in the differentiating cells. Thus, All2390 can influence cell division affecting heterocyst differentiation. An All2390-GFP fusion protein localized to the thylakoidal membranes in vegetative cells and to the honeycomb membranes, which harbor photosynthetic complexes, in the heterocyst polar regions. Notably, all2390 expression strongly increased under high light, conditions under which the null mutant is unable to survive. Thus, All2390 appears essential for adaptation to high light conditions. We name All2390 ThyZ to reflect its dual role in FtsZ-ring dynamics and acclimation of thylakoidal membranes to increased light intensity.

This paper introduces a novel Nature-inspired Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm for Multifactorial Problems, called MOPSO-mfact. The MOPSO-mfact algorithm operates in two processing steps: an initial pre-search in a unified search space, followed using a dominance operator to identify the best skill factor. Subsequently, individuals with identical skill factors are grouped into sub-swarms for multitasking optimization, avoiding random mating probabilities. MOPSO-mfact was evaluated using 36 Multifactorial (ETMOF) benchmark suite. Comparative analysis using the Inverted General Distance (IGD) and Mean Inverted General Distance (MIGD) metrics, along with the Mean Standard Score (MSS), determined the best multitasking approach. Parameter optimization was achieved via sensitivity analysis with the Taguchi method. MOPSO-mfact demonstrated promising results, achieving a strong MSS for 28 ETMOF problems and solving 33 out of 36 problems based on MIGD metrics.

Background: The susceptibility to infectious diseases like hepatitis B is high among municipal waste collectors due to improper segregation and during transportation. Objective: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B infection among municipal waste collectors in Puducherry, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among waste collectors between July 2021 and December 2021. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics. Blood sample was collected by fingerstick, and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using a rapid testing kit. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HBsAg positivity. Results: Among the 949 waste collectors interviewed, the mean (standard deviation) age of 49 (8.5) years and 687 (72.4%) were females. The median (IQR) work experience was 6 (5-20) years. Of the 949 waste collectors tested, 31 (3.3%, 95% CI: 2.2%-4.6%) were seropositive for HBsAg and it was 2.1 times higher in males (5.3%) compared to females (2.5%) though not statistically significant (aPR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.27-2.50; p=0.729). Being married (aPR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.04-9.02; p=0.042) and history of dental procedures (aPR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.15-5.46; p=0.020) were significantly associated with HBsAg positivity. Conclusion: Three out of 100 municipal waste collectors had hepatitis B infection. The findings highlight the need for preventive measures and screening programs for hepatitis B among waste collectors.

This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on allergy indicators in adult patients. We analyzed 8015 tIgE and 34,163 allergen detection results from 2018 to 2023. Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic (2018-2019), pandemic-period (2020-2022), and post-pandemic (2023) groups. Group comparisons and logistic regression analyses examined the relationship between relevant factors and tIgE positivity rates. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using propensity scores was applied to address baseline imbalances. The findings demonstrated consistent conclusions for both tIgE and allergen detection. The tIgE positivity rates and levels were significantly lower during and after the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the pandemic and post-pandemic periods were associated with a reduced risk of tIgE positivity, with the pandemic period exhibiting a more pronounced effect. After IPTW adjustment, for tIgE, the pandemic and post-pandemic periods were associated with reduced tIgE positivity (OR = 0.436 and 0.465, respectively; P < 0.001). For tIgE related to allergen detection, the pandemic and post-pandemic periods were associated with reduced tIgE positivity (OR = 0.733 and 0.817, respectively; P < 0.001). Additionally, allergen detection results indicated that indoor inhaled allergens, such as cat and dog hair dander, had increased positivity rates, while outdoor allergens such as Artemisia argyi and ragweed showed decreased positivity rates. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly improved allergy indicators among adults, likely due to lifestyle changes such as increased mask-wearing and reduced outdoor activities.

Background: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral infection that is endemic in multiple countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Lack of public awareness, inadequate infrastructure, limited facilities, unhygienic practices, failure of early diagnosis, climate changes, and worst socioeconomic conditions have all contributed to rising disease incidence in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan. Methods: Concerning the dire situation, the current study aims to evaluate the relationship between multiple factors including patient demographics (age, sex, and residential area), timeframe, and climate changes to rising disease load and also the survival status. For this purpose, a descriptive study has been performed. Real-time data has been collected from tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan from January 2013 to August 2022 that has not been reported yet. The cases were taken from the hospital records using as standard case definition for the duration of 2013 to 2022. Results: Analysis revealed that a total of 164 CCHF cases were reported of which 57% (n=98 discharged), 48% (n=68 died), and 3% (n=5 LAMA). Of all cases reported 85% (n=144) were male, of which 59% (n=85 discharged) and 41% (n=59 died). Among 20 females 65% (n=13 discharged) and 35% (n=7 died) with p-value<0.05. The highest number of cases 25% (n=41) were reported in 2018 with the greatest disease burden from July to September. The overall case fatality of CCHF was 41% (n=68). The mean age of male patients was 33.76 while female was 42.6. Mostly the cases reported were from Karachi 60% (n=99) followed by Balochistan 21% (n=35). Within Karachi, the highest no of cases was reported from Korangi district 23% (n=23). Interestingly, greater cases and mortality were recorded from highly populated, non-marginalized, less affluent areas due to poor hygiene, less awareness, illiteracy, and fewer facilities. Conclusions: Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic fever is prevailing in the country. The mortality rate associated with the disease is higher. The incidence of the disease is found to be high in the male population which is due to the occupation of animal handling.

Background: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) primarily affects pediatric patients. Data on the global incidence of DIPG remain sparse, especially in South Asia and low-middle-income countries like Pakistan. Methods: After exemption from the Ethics Review Committee, a retrospective study was conducted. Records of patients with DIPG at the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi, from January 2010 to December 2022, were reviewed. Results: A total of 35 pediatric patients were diagnosed/treated for DIPG. The median age of the patients was 9, with 19 (54.3%) males and 16 (45.7%) females. Cranial nerve palsies were the most common complaint in 19 (54.3%) patients, followed by headaches in 18 (51.4%), long tract signs in 14 (40%), ataxia/cerebellar symptoms in 14 (40%), and seizures in 5 (14.3%). MRI was the primary diagnostic tool, used alone or with CT in 32 (94.1%) patients; CT alone was used in 2 (5.7%). Biopsy was performed in 10 (28.6%) patients. Primary radiation therapy was administered to 14 (40%) patients with 5400 cGy in 30 fractions. All these patients received steroids. No patients received reirradiation. VP shunt surgery for hydrocephalus was performed in 9 (25.7%) patients. Over half (54.3%) refused treatment post-diagnosis, and 71.4% were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Providing timely, quality multi-disciplinary care to DIPG patients within resource constraints remains challenging in Pakistan. However, recent developments show promise for improving DIPG care in the country.

Labile traits, such as behavioural, physiological traits or body mass, exhibit variation within an individual either over time or across environments. Such changes within an individual can be linked across traits, forming within-individual trait correlations. These correlations are particularly expected when ageing causes changes in the expression of multiple traits. The direction of these correlations also depends on mechanisms explaining age-related changes in each traits, such as physiological deterioration or changes in future fitness expectations. Therefore, assessing within-individual trait correlations offers insights into the trait-specific ageing patterns, their integration and age-related reproductive strategies. Here, we tracked individual male cicadas (Tettigetta isshikii) in their natural habitat, repeatedly assessing their plant use (narrow vs. wide-leafed), calling activity, and body mass. Results revealed that male cicadas lost mass, increased calling activity and a preference for narrow-leafed plants as they aged. This integration of age-related plasticity led to negative within-individual correlations between body mass and behaviours. The asset protection principle could explain the age-related increase in calling activity and the preference for narrow-leafed plants. Such an age-related increase in energetically demanding calling activity may also cause an age-related decrease in body mass. Considering that adult cicadas consume nutritionally poor xylem sap, the negative within-individual correlations between body mass and risk-taking behaviour suggest that T. isshikii males follow a capital breeding strategy rather than an income breeding strategy. Therefore, we emphasise the importance of individual-level tracking study in the wild to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the life-history strategies and behavioural ecology of a study animal.

1. Plant species composition and diversity are interactively driven by various environmental variables; including climate and land-use. 2. In the drylands of Ghana, the relative importance of these drivers for plant species composition and diversity are still poorly understood and this affects the identification and implementation of appropriate management strategies. 3. Using a combined gradient approach, the study sought to investigate the predictors of species richness and diversity of both the tree and the herbaceous layers in the drylands of Ghana. The study area comprises a steep climatic gradient from the forest-savanna transition to the sudan savanna of Ghana in combination with local gradients of land-use and soil conditions. 4. We used species richness and the Shannon-Wiener Index as response variables. Linear mixed-effect models and model selection were used to test the relationships between multiple environmental variables and the response variables. 5. We found clear differences in species composition between land-use types across the climatic gradient for both the tree and herbaceous layers. We also found differential responses of the herbaceous and tree layers to environmental drivers. Grazing pressure was the most important predictor of both response variables. Climatic aridity and fire were only directly important for herbaceous vegetation but not the tree layer although their indirect effects on the tree layer cannot be discounted. For soil properties, organic matter was important for both vegetation layers. Magnesium and base saturation were only important for the tree layer, while sodium, organic matter and pH were important for the herbaceous layer. 6. Synthesis: The marked differences in species composition for various land-uses along the climatic gradient imply that climate change will indeed affect vegetation. The observed importance of grazing for all response variables implies that land-use could override climate effects and that appropriate land management strategies could mitigate potential negative effects of climate change.

A document by Jingwei Liu. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: Oral health is thought to be a neglected topic in Turkey. By now, therapeutic services have dominated the provision of oral health care in Turkey while preventative treatments have not received enough funding, nor have these services been supplied consistently. Objective: This study aims to elicit the need for the integration of preventive oral health services into the Turkish public health system by revealing the viewpoints of dentists, citizens, health managers and experts in Turkey. Methods: Snowball sampling method was used and qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 47 individuals. Data were collected between April 2023 and August 2023. Both content analysis and descriptive analysis were used to explore the data. The content analysis was completed by using the MAXQDA 2023 Package program. Results: The codes were gathered under three themes in the context of the study: opinions on the provision of preventive oral and dental health services, opinions about family dentistry, current problems in oral and dental health services in Turkey. Results indicate that there is an urgent need to provide preventive oral health services in a systematic way and that the public is unaware of oral health. Provision of oral health services within primary health care services should be presented through the family dentistry system. Conclusions: For creating a roadmap for the integration of preventive oral health services within Turkish public health system, an organization model has been developed including preventive practices for both society and individuals, using a public health approach .

With aggressive technology scaling, lifetime reliability has also become a challenging issue for modern digital circuits due to manufacturing process variation and aging effects. This paper presents a Gen etic algorithm-based multi-objective S equential circuit O ptimization framework called GenSO. GenSO is a novel framework for improving the lifetime reliability of sequential circuits modeled as Finite State Machines (FSMs) along with their initial delay and power consumption. The proposed framework takes advantages of cross layer approach in which a process variation- and aging-aware gate-level delay degradation model is used to compute the circuit lifetime reliability. A metric called Guardband-Aware Reliability (abbreviated as GAR) is proposed that is capable of fairly evaluating the FSM lifetime reliability with regard to the guardband and timing yield determined by the designer. Then, a multi-objective genetic algorithm is employed to improve the delay, power consumption, and lifetime reliability of the sequential circuits modelled in FSM. Experimental results show that, GenSO can find the non-dominated solutions for sequential circuit design whose initial delay, power consumption, and lifetime reliability are simultaneously optimized. By imposing 15% delay overhead for 6-year life time and also 10% variation ratio, GenSO, on average, outperforms reliability of the circuit by 64.34 % comparing to the state-of-the-art reliability optimization framework for sequential circuits which achieves less than 30% improvement in lifetime reliability.

Background: Health planning is essential for effective public health interventions and optimal resource utilisation. The Portuguese General Directorate of Health has a long history of developing health plans and programmes, for communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and their determinants. This study aimed to review the current 24 programmes and assess the adequacy of their structure and content. Methods: A document analysis was conducted using a programme assessment matrix developed by the research group. Two independent researchers evaluated each programme, scoring items as ”absent,” ”present,” or ”not applicable.” A quantitative analysis was employed to analyse compliance scores between priority and non-priority programmes and across the year of publication. Results: Of the 24 existing programmes, 16 complied with at least 75% of the predefined items. Priority programmes had an 83% global compliance score, surpassing non-priority programmes (with 33% of compliance). While the healthy eating programme achieved 100% compliance, the programme on sexual and reproductive scored the lowest (19%). The item least commonly present was “updated time scope”, in only 21% of the programmes. Most recently published programmes were more likely to have a higher compliance score (Β = 0.76, 95% CI: [0.46, 1.05]). Not all programmes were publicly available in the same digital location. Conclusions: There was heterogeneity in the 24 health promotion programmes in terms of structure, content, timeliness, and accessibility. A standardised structure could enhance their quality and ease their interpretation and dissemination.

This study investigates the biogeography of the Australian Camphorosmeae (Amaranthaceae s.l.) and how it relates to shifts in climatic niche and habitat types of the lineage. Building on previous research and data resources, we integrate molecular phylogenetics, bioclimatic data and biogeographic models to deepen our understanding of the diversification and adaptation of this group across Australia’s diverse landscapes in relation to palaeoclimatic changes. For 159 species representing 12 genera, georeferenced distribution points were used to define the most informative bioclimatic variables using principal component analyses. Evolutionary shifts in climatic niches and habitat types were analysed, revealing clade-specific shifts and adaptations to different habitats and climatic conditions. Biogeographic analyses allowed us to infer ancestral areas of Camphorosmeae in Australia and relate their expansion over evolutionary time to habitat shifts. Key periods of aridification in Australia, particularly during the Late Miocene to Pliocene, and the already existing adaptation of this group to warm and dry habitats, were critical in driving its diversification through migration and local adaptation to varied habitats of arid Australia. Our analyses suggest that the “Riverine Desert” habitat that existed already in the Late Miocene and “migrated” eastwards offered suitable conditions for ancestral Australian Camphorosmeae and facilitated their early widespread occurrence in the Western and Eastern Desert. We hypothesise that early diverging lineages such as Roycea adapted to the later emerging “Desert Lake” habitat when it spread in Western Australia during the Early Pliocene. Further habitat type shifts occurred from “Riverine Desert” to “Shield Plain”, “Karst Plain” and to “Sand Desert” also during the Pliocene and Pleistocene once these habitat types emerged. This research shows the complex interplay between ecological flexibility and niche conservatism in shaping the biodiversity of Australian Camphorosmeae.

Plant-soil feedback (PSF) can both positively and negatively affect plant populations. Diverse communities should dilute pathogens and mitigate negative PSF, whereas plant dominance should have the opposite effect. It is unclear, however, whether increased species and genetic diversity can have additive effects on pathogen dilution. Using soils from Medicago sativa production systems varying in dominance and diversity, we inoculated multiple species and cultivars to assess effects on PSF. We linked dominance and diversity to intra- and interspecific variation in PSF via changes in microbiome composition. Intraspecific PSF was more negative and variable as Medicago dominance increased driven by multiple microbiome components. The mean and variance in interspecific PSF responded to different microbiome components but was unlinked to plant composition. Only oomycete pathogens had similar effects within and among species. Independent variation in PSF within and among species suggests additive benefits of genetic and species diversity for pathogen dilution.

This study investigates South Africa’s energy distribution patterns over a typical day, focusing on low-voltage (LV) storage solutions. By examining diurnal energy fluctuations, the research aims to formulate a strategic framework for implementing LV storage technologies. Insights drawn from this analysis can inform policymakers and stakeholders in optimizing energy management, enhancing grid stability, and promoting sustainable development within the South African energy landscape.This paper employs data from the South African National Electricity Utility (Eskom) in generating the diurnal, monthly and yearly variation of the load demand as well as corresponding irradiance variation. The distribution of irradiance less the load demand is employed to design the optimal energy storage capacity within the Low Voltage(LV) Networks that takes into account the different load shedding levels presently being experienced in South Africa.

This paper uses suicidality in bipolar disorder (BD) as a case study demonstrating the preferability of multidimensional over reductionist frameworks in accounting for complex phenomena with cognitive, psychological, socio-environmental, and physiological components. Suicidality, or behaviors and thoughts concerning an intention to end one’s life, illustrates the interplay between diverse factors. This multidimensionality is reflected in the heterogeneous strategies for managing suicidality, which range from psychosocial and cognitive to pharmaceutical and technological interventions. Suicidality in BD is a multi-dimensional phenomenon whose study has been productive through the methods of several disciplines. For instance, suicidality in BD is partly genetic and can be aggravated by symptomatic periods, suggesting physiological causal factors. However, some features of suicidality in BD underscore the causal roles of cognitions. Notably, suicidality can persist beyond depressive periods, and is sometimes experienced during mania. This may be due to persistent suicidal ideation, highlighting the need to account for cognitive or psychological causal factors. Models of suicidality in BD typically adopt a pluralistic approach that does not reduce one dimension to another. Rather, they are treated as different facets of a complex phenomenon that interact and influence each other. Moreover, recent studies have shown the promise of physical interventions, e.g., electroconvulsive therapy and deep-brain stimulation, in the treatment of suicidality in BD. Socio-environmental interventions have been successful in suicide prevention more generally. This demonstrates how multidisciplinary, multidimensional explanations are most likely to productively account for how diverse factors contribute to suicidality along with genetic and physiological determinants.

The nonlinearity of soil moisture content, water potential, and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in soil layers makes it difficult to simulate wetting-drying cycles using conventional means. We addressed this issue using physics-informed neural networks (PINNs). Based on the van Genuchten model, we solved the Richards equation with soil matric potential as the primary variable within the PINNs framework. The proposed approach was applied and validated in a typical deep-buried area at the Luancheng Experimental Station. We found that the PINNs method was as accurate as the finite difference method in simulating the vertical infiltration of soil moisture in a non-laboratory environment. Moreover, the model exhibited swift performance when the soil layer parameters were fine-tuned. Overall, this model accurately characterizes hydrological elements using minimal data, thereby providing a new approach for simulating related hydrological processes.

Indirect effects of hunting can lead to changes in population dynamics, which can be caused by trait-mediated effects such as, but not limited to, changes in behavior, reproduction, and physiological responses. Our understanding of the effects of activities associated with hunting such as dog training may incur trait-mediated effects and ultimately indirect effects to wildlife populations are underrepresented. We conducted a two-year study on a high-density wild bobwhite population to identify potential impacts of disturbance caused by spring dog training on survival and reproduction. We recorded 40 total encounters with radio-collared bobwhite, where the lowest seasonal encounter rate was 16.7% of available coveys and the highest was 50%. In 2021, mean survival for the control and treatment groups were 0.41 (95% CrI: 0.33, 0.49) and 0.38 (95% CrI: 0.31, 0.46), respectively. In 2022, mean survival for the control group was 0.45 (95% CrI: 0.38, 0.52) and 0.42 (95% CrI: 0.34, 0.50) for the treatment group. We also found no effect of treatment on fecundity and nest survival was similar for both years for both treatments. The neutral results of our study are likely attributed to low encounter rates. Future studies should focus on public land scenarios where disturbances are more frequent and food resources are likely more limited.

The small mammalian fauna plays pivotal roles in ecosystem dynamics and as crucial biodiversity indicators. However, recent research has raised concerns about the decline of mammalian species due to climate change. Consequently, significant attention is directed towards studying various flagship mammalian species families for conservation. The hog badger (Mustelidae: Arctonyx) remains understudied regarding the impacts of climate change in Asia. The present study offers a comprehensive analysis of climate change effects on two mainland hog badger species, utilizing ensemble species distribution modeling. Findings reveal concerning outcomes, as only 52% of the IUCN extent is deemed suitable for the Great Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) and a mere 17% is ideal for the Northern Hog Badger (Arctonyx albogularis). Notably, projections suggest a potential reduction of over 26% in suitable areas for both species under future climate scenarios, with the most severe decline anticipated in the SSP585 scenario. These declines translate into evident habitat fragmentation, particularly impacting A. collaris, whose patches shrink substantially, contrasting with the relatively stable patches of A. albogularis. However, despite their differences, niche overlap analysis reveals an intriguing increase in overlap between the two species, indicating potential ecological shifts. The study underscores the importance of integrating climate change and habitat fragmentation considerations into conservation strategies, urging a reassessment of the IUCN status of A. albogularis. The insights garnered from this research are pivotal for enhancing protection measures for hog badgers across Mainland Asia, emphasizing the urgency of proactive conservation efforts, especially in countries with highly suitable areas, as found in this study. By incorporating these findings into conservation policies, we can strive to safeguard these invaluable mammalian species and the ecosystems they inhabit from the detrimental impacts of climate change.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status and neonatal conditions of children enrolled in daycare centers. Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out with 139 children enrolled in Early Childhood Education Centers. Gestational data, birth conditions, socioeconomic conditions and assessment of current nutritional status were collected, assessed using Body Mass Index by Age and Height indicators and classified according to the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 program, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The study found 34.4% of overweight children and 22.6% of short stature among children, and there was a statistically significant correlation between the variables Z-score E/A (short stature) with the Z- BMI/I score (overweight); between gestational age and birth weight and height, and also between birth weight and height. Conclusion: There was excess weight and short stature in proportions higher than previous national studies, demonstrating an association of these indicators with important birth conditions.