Outlier patients - those residing in a ward outside that of the specialty caring for them - often experience delays due to lack of specialty-specific equipment. This study evaluated whether introducing a portable Orthopaedic 'Grab Bag' containing essential equipment improved the efficiency of reviewing and treating Orthopaedic outlier patients in a major trauma centre (MTC) and a trauma unit (TU). A prospective study was conducted at both a London MTC and a TU. Equipment retrieval times for common Orthopaedic procedures (including removal of plaster backslabs, removal of staples from a wound, joint aspiration, wound suturing, application of a polysling, skin traction) were measured under two conditions: standard collection versus use of a prepacked Orthopaedic Grab Bag. The primary outcome was total equipment retrieval time. At the MTC, modal retrieval time decreased from 5-10 minutes to 0-5 minutes post-implementation, with no retrievals exceeding 10 minutes (previously up to 30 minutes). The proportion completed within 5 minutes rose from 21.7% to 64.3%. At the TU, pre-intervention 50% of retrievals were completed within 5 minutes and 15.3% exceeded 10 minutes; post-intervention, all were completed within 5 minutes. The greatest improvements were seen in removal of plaster backslabs (437 seconds faster), polysling application (432 seconds faster) and staple removal from wounds (358 seconds faster). Implementation of an Orthopaedic Grab Bag improved equipment retrieval efficiency significantly in both MTC and TU settings. This low-cost, scalable intervention enhances the timeliness of Orthopaedic outlier care.
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Adults with low socioeconomic status (SES) experience profound tobacco-related health disparities. This paper describes the development of a mobile application, iQuit Mindfully 2.0, to provide accessible mindfulness training for smoking cessation for adults with low SES. In the initial usability study, adults with low SES who smoked (N = 16) used the app for 2 weeks and provided feedback through individual interviews, which were coded using NVivo. Participants appreciated that the app was simple and easy to use, relatable and personalized, and taught mindfulness practices for coping with stress and cravings. The app helped them reduce their smoking, develop greater confidence in their ability to cope with cravings, and recover from smoking lapses. Participants suggested ways to increase interactivity and social support, improve smoking behavior tracking, and enhance app esthetics. This feedback will be used to improve the app with the goal of providing accessible smoking cessation treatment for low-SES populations.
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The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) is essential in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Recent studies highlight the significance of interactions between ACh and various neuromodulators in regulating complex behaviors. The ability to simultaneously image ACh and other neuromodulators can provide valuable information regarding the mechanisms underlying these behaviors. Here we developed a series of red fluorescent G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based ACh sensors, with a wide detection range and expanded spectral profile. The high-affinity sensor rACh1h reliably detects ACh release in various brain regions, including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus and cortex. Moreover, rACh1h can be coexpressed with green fluorescent sensors to record ACh release together with other neurochemicals in various behavioral contexts using fiber photometry, mesoscopic imaging and two-photon imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution.
Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has emerged as a valuable tool for population-level monitoring of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, yet the interplay between sampling strategies and disease prevalence in shaping detection performance remains ambiguous. We investigated how grab and composite sampling influence SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) detection dynamics and predictive lag times across high- and low-prevalence communities in Selangor, Malaysia. A 28-week longitudinal study was conducted in Selangor, Malaysia, comparing grab and composite wastewater sampling in communities with high and low Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence. SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 348 samples was quantified using digital Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-dPCR), and viral lineages were characterized by Nanopore sequencing. Detection sensitivity and lead times relative to reported cases were evaluated. In low-prevalence settings, grab sampling showed higher detection sensitivity than composite sampling (92.0% vs. 70.0%), whereas both methods achieved similarly high detection in high-prevalence areas (>97.0%). Lag-time analysis indicated that grab sampling in high-prevalence settings was significantly associated with case trends at potential two-week lead (p = 0.024), while composite sampling in low-prevalence settings showed the strongest association at a potential one-week lead (p = 0.0022). Overall, lag structures varied by both sampling strategy and prevalence context. Both sampling approaches captured the replacement of Omicron sublineages (XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.16) and identified additional circulating variants, including EG.5, that were not captured in the available clinical sequencing dataset during the same period. These findings reveal that local transmission intensity is associated with the utility of different sampling designs. Context-specific optimization of WBS sampling strategies enhances sensitivity, reduces detection lag, and strengthens early warning and genomic-tracking capacity in public health surveillance frameworks.
Wastewater surveillance can be used to monitor Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S Typhi) transmission in the community, allowing early outbreak detection and vaccine effect evaluation. This study aims to establish the baseline detection rate of S Typhi in wastewater and to evaluate its relationship with the clinical burden of typhoid before typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) introduction in an endemic urban context. We conducted wastewater surveillance for S Typhi in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, from Dec 12, 2022, to June 30, 2023, before implementing a cluster-randomised trial of a TCV. 723 grab and 723 Moore swabs were collected from 50 sampling locations and concentrated using Nanotrap A beads for grab samples and Moore swabs as a passive sampler. S Typhi was detected using multiplex quantitative PCR targeting ttr, staG, and tviB genes. Blood culture-confirmed cases of typhoid fever were recorded through hospital-based surveillance established as a part of an independent ongoing VeVact study, an observer-blinded, cluster-randomised trial of a TCV (TyphiBEV). We calculated proportions of typhoid positivity in wastewater sampling sites and the incidence rates of blood culture-confirmed typhoid cases. Spatial analysis was performed to detect statistically significant hotspots for typhoid fever cases in the study area. Bayesian inference using the integrated nested Laplace approximation and mixed-effects spatiotemporal regression quantified associations between wastewater S Typhi detection and typhoid incidence. S Typhi was detected in 80 (5·5%) of 1446 wastewater samples, higher in grab samples (60 [8·3%] of 723) than in Moore swabs (20 [2·8%] of 723). 207 typhoid cases were recorded, with cases peaking between March and May, 2023. Spatial clustering of typhoid cases corresponded with higher wastewater S Typhi detection. The proportion of wastewater samples that were positive over the study period correlated with typhoid incidence when analysed across the 60 vaccine trial clusters (Spearman's ρ=0·32; p=0·014) or the non-overlapping wastewater site catchment areas (ρ=0·57; p<0·0001). Mixed-effects logistic regression adjusting for spatiotemporal random effects, levels of human faecal contamination, rainfall, and laboratory processing method, gave a 2·43 (95% CI 1·38-4·27) times higher odds of detecting S Typhi in wastewater samples for each 10-fold increase in typhoid fever incidence. Wastewater surveillance data correlate with clinical disease incidence in an endemic setting and could be used to monitor targeted interventions, including TCV introduction. The Gates Foundation.
The dorsolateral striatum (DLS) is a key site for coordinating the alcohol-induced stimulant response, a behavioral marker predictive of future alcohol use disorder. Although ethanol (EtOH) affects all brain cells, little is known about the contribution of non-neuronal DLS cell types to EtOH-induced stimulation. We used ex vivo two photon calcium imaging, in vivo fiber photometry of astrocyte and neuronal GCaMP, and astrocyte-specific manipulations in mice to determine DLS astrocyte contributions to EtOH-induced stimulation and voluntary EtOH drinking behavior. Using fiber photometry of GRAB-ACh sensors and cell-type specific chemogenetics, we also assessed the role of cholinergic signaling in observed astrocyte EtOH effects. As expected, intraperitoneal EtOH injections (0.5-2g/kg) evoked a stimulant response, evidenced by increased locomotion compared to saline. In parallel, EtOH dose-dependently decreased astrocyte calcium activity but had minimal effects on direct and indirect pathway neuronal activity. Mimicking this reduction with astrocyte-specific expression of CalEX, a calcium extruding pump, facilitated EtOH stimulation compared to mice expressing a control fluorophore. Hence, EtOH-induced suppression of DLS astrocyte activity contributes to stimulation. Astrocyte calcium signaling is a well-known target of neuromodulation. Fiber photometry recordings of extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) levels via GRAB-ACh imaging showed inhibition of ACh release by acute EtOH. We virally expressed the excitatory chemogenetic actuator hM3Dq in striatal cholinergic interneurons to assess whether artificially increasing ACh release blocks EtOH-induced inhibition of astrocytic calcium activity. Despite facilitating ACh release, this manipulation did not impact astrocyte calcium activity under control (saline) or EtOH conditions. Together, this work identifies DLS astrocytes as key contributors to EtOH-induced stimulation and highlights the importance of considering astrocyte-neuron interactions in evaluating alcohol effects.
Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Duckweed has been recognized as a promising plant for phytoremediation of heavy metal-polluted water, yet the signaling mechanisms underlying its response to Cd stress remain poorly understood. Dopamine (DA), a catecholamine known as a neurotransmitter in animals, has recently been identified as a potential regulatory molecule in plants, but its dynamic response under heavy metal stress has not been clearly characterized. In this study, dopamine signaling dynamics in duckweed (Lemna turionifera 5511) were investigated using the genetically encoded fluorescent dopamine sensor GRAB-DA2h. Stable transgenic duckweed lines expressing the sensor were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, enabling real-time visualization of intracellular dopamine changes. With Cd treatment, GRAB-DA2h fluorescence in root tissues increased within 1 minute and remained elevated during the imaging period, indicating a rapid early signaling response. Following a 24-hour exposure to 50 mM CdCl2, the protoplasts isolated from fronds exhibited an increase in fluorescence intensity from 345.18 to 391.14, while those derived from roots showed an increase from 112.75 to 140.68. These findings provide direct evidence of dopamine signaling dynamics in duckweed under cadmium stress and demonstrate the applicability of genetically encoded biosensors for studying plant stress signaling. This work offers new insights into plant responses to heavy metal stress and may contribute to improving phytoremediation strategies.
Tyre-related chemicals are emerging environmental pollutants. They can reach the aquatic environment via sustainable drainage systems (e.g., retention ponds). However, little is known about tyre chemicals in these engineered environments which themselves are important ecosystems. A key challenge of monitoring tyre chemicals is their changeable concentrations caused by road runoff. Therefore, it was proposed to establish a longer-term monitoring approach (e.g., ≥ 7 days) to complement low frequency grab sampling for improved fate and exposure assessments. A hydrophilic-lipophilic balance-Chemcatcher passive sampler configuration was assessed for uptake of 11 tyre-related chemicals including 1,3-diphenylguanidine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM), and N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-quinone). Ex-situ 14-day uptake calibrations showed linear uptake (r2 values ≥ 0.9) in pond water with sampling uptake rates (RS) in the range 0.0073 - 0.054 L/d. Both water temperature and flow velocity had a significant effect (p-value < 0.05) on RS value for some chemicals. Subsequent in-situ monitoring revealed little reduction in tyre chemical concentrations through two retention pond systems. Nevertheless, 7-day and 14-day time weighted average concentrations were below the provisional predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) for most chemicals. However, all samples exceeded the current PNEC for HMMM (1.7 × 10-2 µg/L) and by ≥ 20 times for some samples suggesting need for 'upstream' or within pond intervention. Non-targeted analysis tentatively identified a further 20 potential chemicals of interest in Chemcatcher extracts including vulcanisation accelerators, plasticisers and transformation products. Overall, the proposed Chemcatcher passive sampler can complement grab sampling to better monitor tyre-related chemicals in surface waters for their improved management.
To date, research on gestural communication in species other than great apes has been quite limited, especially in their natural habitat, although including a broader range of species in different settings is essential for identifying evolutionary patterns and determining whether some of the fundamental characteristics of human communication are widely shared across primates. In this study, we specifically aimed to explore the use of gestural sequences in Geoffroy's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), a species for which research on gestural communication remains scarce. To this end, we conducted behavioral observations, recording focal video samples of a wild group of 54 individuals. From the videos, we coded all gestures (N = 709), of which 182 occurred alone and 527 occurred within 125 sequences, which mostly consisted of 2-4 successive gestures. The odds of producing gestural sequences rather than single gestures were higher in the contexts of play, aggression and sexual behavior. In contrast, there was no significant effect of signaler's sex and age on the odds of producing a gestural sequence rather than a single gesture. Only three sequences (i.e., embrace-pectoral sniff, push-present climb, grab-grab pull) occurred more than twice and were not mere repetitions of the same gesture type. Our results show that gestural sequences are used by platyrrhines in several different contexts, although more studies are needed to understand their function. Hasta la fecha, la investigación sobre comunicación gestual en especies distintas a los grandes simios ha sido limitada, especialmente en su hábitat natural, aunque incluir un abanico más amplio de especies en diferentes contextos es esencial para identificar patrones evolutivos y determinar si las caracteristicas fundamentales de la comunicación humana son exclusivas de los grandes simios o están más ampliamente compartidas entre los primates. En este estudio, exploramos el uso de secuencias gestuales en el mono araña de Geoffroy (Ateles geoffroyi), una especie para la cual la investigación sobre comunicación gestual sigue siendo escasa. Con este fin, realizamos observaciones de comportamiento, registrando muestras focales de un grupo silvestre compuesto por 54 individuos. A partir de los vídeos, codificamos todos los gestos (N = 709), de los cuales 182 ocurrieron como gestos únicos y 527 dentro de 125 secuencias, que en su mayoría incluían entre 2 y 4 gestos. Las odds de producir una secuencia gestual en lugar de un gesto único fue máyor en contextos de juego, agresión o sexuales. En contraste, no se encontró ningún efecto significativo del sexo y de la edad del emisor sobre las odds de producir una secuencia gestual en lugar de un gesto único. Solo tres secuencias (es decir, abrazo‐olfateo pectoral, empujón‐presentación para trepar y agarre‐tirón) ocurrieron más de dos veces y no fueron meras repeticiones del mismo tipo de gesto. Nuestros resultados muestran que las secuencias gestuales también son utilizadas por platirrinos en diferentes contextos, aunque se necesitan más estudios para comprender su función.
Managing salinity in arid rivers is impeded by sparse monitoring, relying on low-frequency grab samples that miss hydrological event dynamics. Here, interpretable machine learning is applied to a 50-year monthly archive (1968-2018; Discharge, major ions, pH) from three stations on Iran's Karkheh River. Gradient Boosting Regression achieves high predictive skill for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)/Electrical Conductivity (EC) (test-set R2 = 0.94/0.97; RMSE = 55 mg L-1/56 µS cm-1), validated via time-aware cross-validation. SHAP-based feature attribution reveals that Na+ and SO4-2 are the strongest contributors to TDS, while Na+ and Cl- dominate EC, consistent with conservative salinity sources under baseflow conditions. A reduced-input decision tree (four predictors) retains R2 = 0.81-0.87, enabling minimal-sensor monitoring. Flow-regime partitioning and STL (Seasonal-Trend decomposition using Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing)-detrended event composites reveal low-flow salinization and ion-specific post-flood recovery (Cl-: 1-2 months; Na+: 2-3 months), guiding targeted sampling. This framework extracts predictive power, process associations, and operational guidance from legacy grab-sample archives, scalable to data-limited basins worldwide.
Respiratory protective textiles increasingly require multifunctional surface treatments that enhance durability and provide active antiviral performance without compromising filtration. In this context, this study develops graphene nanoplatelet-silver nanoparticle (GNP-Ag) and super activated carbon-silver nanoparticle (SAC-Ag) composite coatings for PPE-grade nonwoven fabrics using a room-temperature ultrasonic atomization process. The coatings enhanced mechanical integrity while maintaining baseline filtration efficiency. GNP-Ag increased spunbond grab strength by 54% and, when combined with polyurethane and UV cross-linking, improved meltblown strength by 47%. Surface wettability shifted from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, with meltblown contact angle increasing from 88° to 121°, and wash fastness improved following heat and UV curing. Cytotoxicity assays showed a dose-dependent response, with GNP-Ag exhibiting lower cytotoxicity compared with SAC-Ag. Antiviral testing against human coronavirus OC43 demonstrated a 1.93-log reduction (98.8%) after 10 min for unwashed GNP-Ag fabrics and a 1.43-log reduction (96.3%) after washing. Filtration performance remained unchanged for GNP-Ag and slightly increased for SAC-Ag. These results demonstrate a stable, mechanically reinforcing, and antiviral coating that enhances the protective function of PPE-grade nonwoven fabrics.
An aging population is a major demographic transition with significant implications for healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Ensuring age-friendly healthcare services is essential to meet the complex needs of the elderly population. The objective of this study was to assess the elderly friendliness of government and private hospitals in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 70 hospitals (34 government and 36 private) with inpatient facilities in Ernakulam district. A structured checklist was used to assess six domains: accessibility, medical care services, physical environment, inpatient services, admission and billing, and spiritual environment. Data were collected through interviews with administrative personnel and direct observation and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The mean elderly friendliness score was 27.36 ± 4.78. Overall, 31 (44.3%) hospitals were classified as elderly friendly. Among these, a higher proportion were private hospitals (52.8%) compared with government hospitals (35.3%). The physical environment domain showed the highest performance, whereas accessibility performed the poorest. Private hospitals scored significantly higher in admission and billing (p=0.002) and spiritual environment (p=0.001). Government hospitals showed higher scores in medical care services, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.057). No significant difference was observed in overall elderly-friendliness scores between the two sectors (p=0.369). Less than half of the hospitals in the study were elderly friendly, with major gaps in accessibility infrastructure, geriatric care services, and safety features such as grab rails in toilets. Strengthening hospital accessibility, improving geriatric training among healthcare personnel, and implementing standardized age-friendly policies are required to improve elderly healthcare services.
The Gorai River, the largest distributary of the Ganges in Bangladesh, experiences high sedimentation and increasing anthropogenic pressure, raising concerns about heavy metal accumulation. This study examined the spatial distribution, pollution status, source apportionment, and ecological risks of 10 heavy metals in surface sediments collected from 22 sampling points along the Gorai River using a grab sampling method. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) followed the order: Mn (367.0) > Cr (23.97) > Ni (21.97) > Cu (18.66) > Co (9.55) > Pb (7.65) > As (5.41) > Se (0.187) > Cd (0.088) > Hg (0.0146), with Mn, Cu, and Ni exceeding the Toxicity Reference Values. Pollution indices including contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and the pollutant load index indicated minimal pollution (CF < 6, EF < 5, PLI < 1). Nevertheless, EF for Se reached 6.93, and Cd showed elevated potential ecological risks (Er > 40). The overall Risk Indices indicated low pollution risks. Non-carcinogenic health risks were negligible, though children showed relatively higher sensitivity to As and Cr exposure. Ni represented relatively higher carcinogenic risks for children. The source apportionment analyses collectively indicated that most heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cr, Cu, Se) suggest mixed geogenic and anthropogenic origins. In contrast, Hg showed a distinct source signature, indicating localized contamination. These findings provide important baseline data for sediment quality assessment, management and long-term monitoring of the Gorai River system.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a member of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances family, is highly bioaccumulative and remains a persistent public health concern for consumers of wild freshwater fish. However, testing fish tissue for PFOS is time-consuming and costly, and it requires fish mortality. To reduce these costs by furthering the understanding of controls on PFOS bioaccumulation, we analyzed 3,831 paired fish tissue and surface water grab samples collected between 2006 and 2023 from 185 sites in Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, United States. We found that surface water samples reliably predict PFOS concentrations in fish filets. Species-averaged tissue PFOS scales log-linearly with water PFOS (R2 = 0.49). Adding fish taxonomy modestly improves fit (R2 = 0.69), while fish length, feeding guilds, and habitat preferences contribute little compared with water concentration. Decision tests tied to common fish consumption advisory targets (3.9-200 ng/g) yield surface water thresholds of ∼2.3-26.2 ng/L and strong classification abilities (AUC 0.85-0.97). We posit that surface water PFOS is a practical, defensible proxy for fish PFOS that can accelerate protection while improving efficiency. Regulatory agencies could adopt a tiered framework using surface water PFOS concentrations to triage waterbodies for fish sampling, thus reducing costs, limiting fish mortality, and enabling timely, consistent advisories.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2, Norovirus GI and GII have been identified as one of the leading primary agents of lethal diseases such as COVID-19 and acute gastroenteritis, causing critical problems in public health, particularly in children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. These pathogens contribute to substantial morbidity, mortality and pose a serious threat to human health, imposing a tremendous economic burden globally. Hence, this study sought to profile the co-occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 and Noroviruses in wastewater collection and treatment facilities within Buffalo City and Amathole District regions, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Raw wastewater samples were collected from the wastewater treatment facilities on a weekly basis for a 6-month sampling regime using the grab sampling technique. Total Ribonucleic acids (RNA) were extracted and purified using the commercial Total RNA extraction kits and the extracted RNA sample were further profiled for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and Noroviruses GI and GII using RT-qPCR. A total of 213 samples were screened using RT-qPCR. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 146 (69%) samples, Norovirus GI in 58 (27%), Norovirus GII in 25 (12%) and 25 (12%) samples showed co-infection with both GI and GII norovirus targets. The RNA concentration of the extracted samples from wastewater treatment facilities in this study ranged between 102 ng/µl and 12,828 ng/µl. It was observed that the SARS-CoV-2 GC/mL range from 5.22 × 102 to an extreme 2.5650 × 104 GC/mL. The study findings demonstrate a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, affirming the utility of wastewater surveillance as an early warning system for potential outbreaks at community levels. Furthermore, the study showed the co-occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 alongside Norovirus GI and GII in wastewater milieu, highlighting an exacerbated potential risk of co-infection and a major threat to public health and environmental safety.
Synthetic musks (SMs) are rarely included in routine monitoring programs and are typically investigated only in wastewater-impacted environments. There is limited understanding of their potential sources and transport from industrial and other urban areas. This study investigates the occurrence of SMs in urban waterways across the greater Melbourne area, Australia, by examining land-use associations. Sampling methods were also assessed by comparing grab water sample collection against trimethylpentane (TRIMPS) and Chemcatcher SDB-XC passive samplers. Surface water samples from 20 sites were extracted and analysed via solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Passive samplers detected a higher number of SMs (eight) compared to grab samples (four). Eight SMs-galaxolide, tonalide, cashmeran, celestolide, traseolide, phantolide, and musk ambrette and musk ketone-were detected in urban waterways, with SMs present at 70% of sites. No statistically significant land-use associations were found for SMs, yet distinct patterns emerged. Galaxolide reached the highest concentrations (up to 1550 ng/L) and detection frequency in wastewater- and residential-impacted areas. Tonalide and galaxolide were detected in rural sites implying widespread use and possibly atmospheric transport. Cashmeran had a higher incidence of detection at residential sites, while musk ketone-internationally regulated in cosmetics-was highest in industrial areas, suggesting possible non-cosmetic sources. Polycyclic musks and nitro musks were present throughout the urban environment highlighting the need for continued monitoring and further research on their environmental distribution and impact.
Social learning is widely used to explain behavioral traditions, yet whether it determines their long-term stability remains unclear. This study tested this in hornbills learning a novel stone-dropping tool task by dissociating individual reinforcement from action-based demonstration by a human experimenter. Hornbills did not innovate after exposure to the solved outcome alone. Although both routes enabled acquisition, they generated different motor solutions and sharply different retention. Individually trained birds solved rapidly using push-based insertions, whereas socially trained birds learned more slowly and adopted grab-lift actions matching the demonstration. After 12 months, all socially trained birds retained the behavior, whereas none of the individually trained birds did. Observing organized action may therefore promote the consolidation of novel behavior into durable, tradition-like forms.
The wastewater effluent is a hotspot for a multitude of microorganisms, including environmental pathogens, true human pathogens, and animal pathogens. In the absence of standardized wastewater treatment facilities, these pathogens contaminate surface and groundwater, further contributing to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the bacteriological profiles and antibiotic resistance patterns in hospital wastewater in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2023 to March 2024. Wastewater samples were collected from 2 hospitals using a grab sampling technique. Bacteria were identified using standard biochemical tests and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were verified for completeness and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27. From the total samples collected, 219 bacterial isolates were recovered. The dominant bacteria were K. pneumoniae (57/219; 26%) and E. coli (47/219; 21.5%). K. pneumoniae showed the highest resistance levels to cefuroxime and tetracyclines, each (32/57; 85.1%). The magnitude of ESBLs and carbapenemase producers were (37/195; 19%), and (6/195; 3.1%), respectively. Overall, (115/219; 52.5%) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. Wastewater generated from hospitals contaminate downstream rivers and pose public health risk. Therefore, proper wastewater treatment is needed.