Teaching is a vocally demanding occupation. International evidence suggests a higher burden of voice symptoms among schoolteachers than among other workers. However, there are a few population-based reports. This study aims to analyze the self-perception of voice use reported by schoolteachers in Chile, compared to non-teaching workers and workers who do not use their voice as a work tool. Secondary, comparative analysis based on the Chilean National Survey of Employment, Work, Health and Quality of Life (2009-2010). The study included employed individuals classified as schoolteachers, public transportation drivers, and other workers (n = 9314). The following variables were analyzed: (a) raising one's voice to converse due to working in a noisy environment, (b) overexerting one's voice during the workday, and (c) symptoms or problems associated with the voice, in addition to sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Descriptive and comparative analyses, along with logistic regression models, were performed to estimate associations between self-perception of voice use and vocal symptoms, while adjusting for covariates. Schoolteachers had a higher prevalence of voice problems and voice strain than drivers and other workers in Chile. In the regression models for schoolteachers, a significant association was reported between voice strain and a higher risk of reporting voice problems in the categories of strain during half of the working day (OR = 7.85, 95% CI [1.65, 37.27]) and throughout the working day (OR =13.04, 95% CI [2.83, 60.07]), regardless of gender, age, marital status, and years of work experience. In the Chilean working population, teaching is associated with a higher burden of vocal symptoms and overexertion, regardless of sociodemographic factors. These findings support the implementation of specific preventive strategies for occupational voice users in the education sector, as well as the prioritization of surveillance and occupational health programs in schools.
Snakebite is a serious public health issue that causes a significant amount of morbidity and mortality. This has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a roadmap to reduce snakebite envenoming (SBE) by half by 2030. This study predicted the activities healthcare workers consider most important among the 24 WHO SBE roadmap activities for preventing and controlling snakebites. The research involved healthcare workers and took place in two poor and mostly rural districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study used traditional MaxDiff and five machine learning (ML) models to analyze the data. Healthcare workers prioritized "Making safe, effective antivenoms available, accessible, and affordable to all" as the most important activity, with a utility estimate (UE) of 0.8256 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7300 to 0.9213). This was followed by "Effective first aid care and ambulance transport" (UE = 0.4348, 95% CI: 0.3266 to 0.5430), "Coordinated data management and analysis" (UE = 0.3744, 95% CI: 0.2353 to 0.5134), and "Promoting advocacy, effective communication, and productive engagement" (UE = 0.3630, 95% CI: 0.2528 to 0.4732). Using choice experiments and ML models has helped reveal healthcare workers' priorities regarding the WHO's SBE roadmap activities. This approach gives a clear view of local opinions on key WHO activities, which is crucial for tackling the snakebite problem. By using this information in the broader health system, we can improve health outcomes and enhance the quality of life for snakebite patients in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries.
Despite continuous progress in diagnosis and therapy, breast carcinoma (BC) remains a major health problem. Triple-negative (Estrogen Receptor-/Progesterone Receptor-/HER2-) breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype due to its high metastatic potential and resistance to chemotherapy. The Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) transcription factor, a protein present in both cytoplasm and nucleus, is a driver of TNBC malignancy as it stimulates its cancer stem cell phenotype and disrupts cell cycle progression. Here, we hypothesized that YB-1-containing sEVs deliver YB-1 to the nuclear compartment of recipient cancer cells and play a major role in the activation of the metastatic process. We found a selective enrichment of YB-1 in sEVs from MDA and 4T1 cells, with ∼65% and 50% of all sEVs positive for YB-1 by d-STORM. Administration of sEVs from wild-type MDA and 4T1 to their YB-1 knockout counterparts resulted in nuclear translocation of sEV-associated YB-1 and increased tumorsphere formation. Pharmacological blockade of the nuclear transport machinery based on the inhibition of the formation of the "VOR" complex ( V AP-A- O RP3- R ab7) by PRR851 impaired both nuclear translocation and the YB-1-induced increase in tumorsphere formation. YB-1 phosphorylation at S102 was required for nuclear localization. In fact, loss of YB-1 phosphorylation inhibited tumorsphere growth and stemness of cancer cells and YB-1-positive sEVs restored the oncogenic behavior of cancer cells expressing phospho-mutant YB-1. Moreover, PRR851 inhibited the nuclear translocation of the phosphorylated form of YB-1 and the oncogenic behavior of the TNBC cells. These data support the conclusion that the nuclear translocation of sEV-associated phosphorylated YB-1 is an important factor in the malignant behavior of TNBC and a potential therapeutic target.
Cystine stones account for 1%‒2% of adult and up to 10% of pediatric kidney stones. They result from cystinuria, an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in solute carrier family 3 member 1 (SLC3A1) and SLC7A9, which encode the renal cystine transporter subunits. These mutations impair cystine reabsorption, raising urinary cystine levels and driving stone formation. Current diagnostic options remain limited in terms of detecting molecular dysfunctions. Thus, we aimed to develop a nonradioactive, cell-based method for the functional assessment of cystine transporters and mutation-specific pathologies. Using human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells transiently co-expressing wild-type or mutant SLC3A1 and SLC7A9, we developed an integrated approach that combined a selenocystine-based fluorescence uptake assay with AlphaFold3-based structural predictions to rapidly and accurately assess cystine transporter function and the molecular impact of genetic mutations. The affinity of the SLC3A1/SLC7A9 complex was comparably apparent for selenocystine (Michaelis constant Km=(156.3±24.2) μmol/L) and cystine (literature Km approximately 200 μmol/L). Using operational thresholds (mild >60%, moderate 20%‒60%, severe <20% residual activity), the assay differentiated the functional impacts of eight clinically characterized variants, including SLC7A9 A70V, A182T, G105R, R333W, V170M, A354T, and P482L, and SLC3A1 M467T, with categorical assignments consistent with previously published radioisotope-based functional data. AlphaFold3 modeling, combined with molecular docking, provides mechanistic interpretations of the dysfunction observed in the P482L and A354T mutants. The integrated approach employed in this work, which combines a sensitive selenocystine fluorescence assay with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered structural analysis, enables the rapid, precise diagnosis of cystinuria variants. This platform is compatible with standard microplate-reader infrastructure and offers potential utility in variant-interpretation pipelines and future genotype-guided therapeutic decision-making, pending prospective clinical validation. 目的: 胱氨酸结石约占成人肾结石的1%–2%，在儿童中可达10%，其病因为胱氨酸尿症——一种由SLC3A1和SLC7A9基因突变所致的常染色体隐性遗传病。上述突变导致胱氨酸重吸收障碍，尿中胱氨酸浓度升高，进而促进结石形成。目前临床检测手段难以精确评估不同突变对转运蛋白功能的影响。为此，本研究旨在建立一种无放射性、基于细胞的功能评估体系，以实现对胱氨酸转运蛋白活性及突变致病变异的系统鉴定。方法: 将野生型或突变型SLC3A1与SLC7A9质粒共转染至HEK293细胞，瞬时表达胱氨酸转运复合体。方法学上整合两条技术路径:其一，基于硒代胱氨酸的荧光摄取实验，利用其作为胱氨酸的功能性类似物，借助固有荧光特性实现转运活性的实时定量检测，规避传统放射性底物法的操作繁琐与辐射安全问题;其二，联合AlphaFold3进行蛋白质结构预测及分子对接，从分子层面解析突变导致功能丧失的机制。结果: SLC3A1/SLC7A9复合体对硒代胱氨酸的表观米氏常数（Km=(156.3±24.2) μmol/L)与文献报道的天然底物胱氨酸（约200 μmol/L）高度接近，验证了替代底物的可行性。依据残余活性阈值（轻度>60%;中度20%–60%;重度<20%），对8种临床相关变异体（SLC7A9:A70V、A182T、G105R、R333W、V170M、A354T、P482L;SLC3A1:M467T）进行功能分级，结果与既往放射性同位素法数据一致。AlphaFold3建模显示，P482L可能破坏跨膜区螺旋堆积，A354T则可能干扰氢键网络，为功能丧失提供了结构解释。结论: 本研究建立的集成平台结合了灵敏的荧光功能检测与AI驱动的结构分析，可实现胱氨酸尿症变异体的快速精准评估。该法无需放射性同位素，兼容常规微孔板读板设备，可嵌入现有变异解读流程，未来有潜力指导基因型个体化治疗，但尚需前瞻性临床验证。.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are primary cellular factors in the development of diabetes mellitus and its associated cardiovascular complications. Targeting these processes represents a potential therapeutic strategy. Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) of the mitochondrial outer membrane, which regulate metabolite transport between mitochondria and the cytosol, have emerged as candidate targets for diabetes intervention. In this work, we studied the effect of VBIT-4, an inhibitor of VDAC oligomerization, on the development of mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiovascular cells in a model of diabetes mellitus in vivo and in vitro. The metabolic and cardiac effects of VBIT-4 (10 mg/kg every 48 h for 21 days, intraperitoneally) were assessed in a mouse model of high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Administration of VBIT-4 was associated with lower blood glucose levels and partial normalization of HR and QT intervals in diabetic animals. Analysis of mitochondrial TEM micrographs and cardiac mitochondrial functional activity indicated that VBIT-4 partially improved State 3 respiration and significantly reduced TBARS production in heart mitochondria of diabetic animals. In cell culture models (primary mouse pulmonary vascular endothelium and HEK293T cells) under hyperlipidemic conditions, both VBIT-4 treatment and silencing of VDAC1 expression significantly reduced DCF and MitoSOX fluorescence, suggesting a potential decrease in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species overproduction. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations predicted that VBIT-4 interacts with the α-helical N-terminus of VDAC1, potentially stabilizing it within the channel pore. Together, these findings suggest that the cardioprotective effects of VBIT-4 in the diabetic setting may involve suppression of VDAC1 oligomerization and associated mitochondrial ROS overproduction.
Refugees experience a disproportionately high burden of hypertension, with war-related displacement disrupting their social networks. Countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are among the largest producers of refugees globally. While previous research has established the role of social support in improving chronic disease management, little is known about its impact among refugees from Arabic-speaking MENA countries. This study focuses on refugees diagnosed with hypertension from two Arabic-speaking MENA countries, Syria and Iraq, to investigate perceived social connectedness and the influence of social support on hypertension management. 107 refugees from Iraq (n = 84) and Syria (n = 23) who resettled in San Diego, CA, were recruited from a federally qualified health center in a refugee-majority neighborhood. Participants completed quantitative surveys; a subsample of 54 completed in-depth interviews until thematic saturation was reached. Mean age was 61.61 years (SD = 9.81), mean years since United States resettlement was 9.6 years (SD = 5.82), and 48.6% (n = 52) of participants were female. Overall, 60.7% (n = 65) reported social disconnection, and 61.7% reported an annual income <$15,000. Participants described 3 forms of social support (or lack thereof) that impact hypertension management. (1) Informational: reliance on close social networks for health information; (2) Instrumental: lack of transportation and language barriers in clinical spaces; and (3) Emotional: loss of social networks and social status, causing psychosocial stress. Findings suggest that prioritizing family reunification during resettlement and integrating social support into public health interventions, such as family-centered care, shared medical appointments, and community-based peer support, may mitigate the loss of social support and related hypertension disparities among refugees.
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments which contribute to health, function, and quality of life risk factors and outcomes. Data regarding their integration in health care and role in clinical outcomes has been limited. Routine assessment of select SDOH was implemented in a pharmacist-run antithrombosis clinic at a mid-sized academic medical center with patients who endorsed specific barriers receiving applicable resources. This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating the association between patient-reported specific food and transportation SDOH barriers and their warfarin management. Adults with at least one in-person visit for warfarin management were eligible for inclusion. Patients reported the presence or absence of select SDOH barriers during their warfarin visit. The primary outcome was warfarin time in therapeutic range (TTR), compared between patient groups. Of the 128 patients included, 42 endorsed a food and/or transportation barrier. The primary outcome, warfarin TTR, was significantly lower in patients who endorsed a food and/or transportation barrier, 42.6% versus 59.6% (p < 0.001). Similarly, patients who reported a SDOH barrier also had higher rates of appointment absence, 23.8% versus 11.8% (p < 0.001). Subgroups of patients reporting a food barrier only, transportation barrier only, or both barriers demonstrated consistent trends compared with patients reporting no SDOH barriers in both outcomes. We identified two SDOH factors that affect relevant clinical outcomes for patients on a high-risk medication, warfarin, demonstrating the need for increased surveillance and attention for SDOH among this population. We also describe the implementation of SDOH screening within a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic.
Cities promote public health through diverse environmental, service, and access conditions. In China, formal recognition systems shape which health-promoting resource configurations become institutionally visible. These systems rely on standardized templates, so they tend to recognize resources that are easy to measure and compare across regions, while overlooking locally embedded ones. This study asks how heterogeneous configurations translate into recognition signals, and where current systems reach their coverage limits. Using panel data from 111 prefecture-level cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2017 to 2024, the analysis builds a recognition benchmark from national and provincial designation records and applies XGBoost with SHAP under strict temporal extrapolation. Recognition concentrates on a small set of highly legible indicators. Forest coverage alone accounts for 15.6 percent of resource-base attribution. Enablers such as transport, digital infrastructure, and service capacity show stronger recognition attribution mainly when the resource base is already strong. The study identifies eight city-level pathways and interprets them as policy-aligned, low-readiness, or boundary-advantage positions. Within the Yangtze River Economic Belt, low recognition does not necessarily mean low health value. It can also reflect limits in how current templates read locally embedded resources. These findings refer to institutional visibility, not realized service quality, market performance, or population-health outcomes. The framework helps cities distinguish template alignment, pathway immaturity, and institutional invisibility, supporting differentiated health-and-wellness routes rather than a single recognition-oriented path.
In France, while radiotherapy is primarily covered by national health insurance, disparities in access may persist. These disparities can be influenced by geographic location, leading to variations in travel time to the nearest radiotherapy unit, the number of accessible radiotherapy units within a reasonable commute, the availability of specific treatments such as brachytherapy, and the resource density within accessible radiotherapy units. This study aimed to assess the accessibility and availability of radiotherapy across France, identifying potential inequities among the population based on home location and regional mean income. The study covered metropolitan France (including Corsica) and the French overseas departments/territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion, using the commune (municipality) and Paris/Marseille/Lyon arrondissements (city districts; treated as separate communes) as the geographic unit. For each department, annual sex-specific cancer incidence (2007-2014) was applied proportionally to commune populations to estimate the number of patients undergoing radiotherapy, with the scaling coefficient derived from France-wide radiotherapy volumes in 2022. Geographic accessibility was quantified by calculating road and public-transport travel times from each commune's main city to all radiotherapy units, using Haversine-based candidate selection (up to 70km, extended to 100km) and Google Maps/La Poste (French postal service) validation; a radiotherapy unit was considered accessible for external beam radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and brachytherapy if best transportation time was less than 45min, 60min, and 90min, respectively. Availability was summarized using population-weighted efficiency (mean) and equity (dispersion via SD/IQR/D9/D1) across communes, with commune-level availability metrics derived from accessible radiotherapy units (averaged when multiple were accessible; otherwise from the closest), and no statistical testing performed because all French communes were analysed. Ninety percent of the study population had access to at least one radiotherapy unit within 45min of travel (one-way). Forty percent had access by public transportation within 45min. Two-thirds had access to at least two radiotherapy units within 45min. Excluding head and neck brachytherapy, 40 % of the population had access to all treatment modalities (external beam radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and all types of brachytherapy). Residents of mountainous and less densely populated areas faced longer travel times to the nearest radiotherapy unit. The availability of resources within the closest radiotherapy unit was independent of travel time, territorial population density, and mean regional income. In dense territories, accessibility was similar regardless of regional mean income; however, in non-dense territories, accessibility was higher in areas with higher incomes. Despite generally good and equitable access in France, disparities persist that may be attributed to factors beyond the control of healthcare authorities, such as territorial density, mountainous terrain, and potentially the real estate market. Densely populated areas offer both the highest and most equitable accessibility to radiotherapy.
Nanopore-based single-molecule sensing has emerged as a powerful tool for analyzing proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. However, label-free control of analyte transport has predominantly relied on electrophoretic and electro-osmotic forces, whereas the deliberate engineering of hydrophobic interactions to modulate translocation kinetics remains underexplored. Here, we introduce aromatic residues at strategically distinct positions (T83F and S116F) within the Mycobacterium smegmatis Porin A (M2-MspA) constriction region to spatially segregate hydrophobic trapping from electrostatic steering, thereby establishing a position-dependent 'molecular brake' mechanism. These mutations were strategically introduced to modulate hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic forces within the pore. S116F elongates dwell times by ∼2.5-fold and deepens current blockades by 8-11% for negatively charged analytes, consistent with cooperative hydrophobic-electrostatic trapping near the R118 vestibule. Conversely, for positively-charged lysozyme, T83F prolongs dwell times by ∼3.2-fold while sharpening blockade distributions (ΔI/I0 = 63.97 ± 1.00%), whereas S116F introduces electrostatic repulsion that partially offsets hydrophobic attraction, thereby reducing residence time and revealing charge-dependent modulation of analyte-pore interactions. Notably, the combination of T83F and S116F enables the differentiation of complex mixtures, such as single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and lysozyme, under symmetric salt conditions and neutral pH. Our work highlights the importance of precise spatial positioning of aromatic residues and shaping of charge distributions in nanopore engineering, offering a foundation for designing multifunctional nanopores. These position-dependent hydrophobic 'molecular brakes' enable label-free differentiation of oppositely-charged analytes under symmetric, neutral-pH conditions, advancing M2-MspA toward peptide profiling and protein fingerprinting.
Telemedicine use has expanded rapidly across ambulatory care. Satisfaction with telemedicine services has been associated with social determinants of health (SDOH) such as socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and employment status. However, little is known about gender-specific patterns in patient experience. This study examined how demographic and SDOH are associated with telehealth satisfaction among women. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from female patients who completed standardized post-telehealth surveys within the Mayo Clinic Health Care System between March 2020 and December 15, 2023. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between patient satisfaction and the following demographics and SDOH: age, race, ethnicity, marital status, Elixhauser score, mental health diagnosis, stress risk, financial risk, transportation risk, food insecurity risk, primary language, and physical activity risk. Among 51,512 female patients, higher age was associated with less satisfaction with "ease of scheduling appointment" and "ease of contacting clinic," but was associated with significantly higher satisfaction for other measures, including "care practitioners' efforts to include" and "recommending healthcare office." A high Elixhauser score was associated with lower satisfaction with "how well the audio and video connections worked." A higher Elixhauser score and older age emerged as key factors associated with telehealth satisfaction among women. Targeted efforts to support patients with complex health needs and those requiring enhanced care coordination may improve satisfaction and equity in ambulatory telemedicine.
Our study explored the histological and histo-functional characteristics of the testis and seminal vesicles of Jaculus jaculus, collected from the Biskra (34° 51' 0" N 5° 43' 59.999" E) and M'sila regions in Algeria (35°42'20.99" N 4°32'30.98" E) from autumn to early spring, corresponding to activity and transitional periods of the reproductive cycle. An immunohistochemical analysis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) was conducted on the seminal vesicles and testes during the active reproductive. The study utilized an indirect immunohistochemistry protocol with amplification through streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase. Histologically, seminiferous tubules in Jaculus jaculus, captured during the transitional period of the reproductive cycle, multinucleated giant cells of germinal origin were observed during the transitional phase of the reproductive cycle, reflecting a process of seasonal testicular remodelling. The histological structure of seminal vesicles appears highly characteristic of the studied species, with the vesicular epithelium organized into complex acinar glands surrounded by basal lamina and connective tissue. Gland cells secrete a heterogeneous product. In the testis, cells of the seminiferous epithelium express MMP-2 and MMP-9 in their cytoplasm, with a strong expression of MMP-2; however, both proteins are absent from the extracellular matrix. During the active period, in seminal vesicles, a significant immunohistochemical signal of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was observed in epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, with no immunoexpression in the extracellular matrix. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are expressed in a pattern consistent with a potential role in the seasonal reproductive cycle.
Even with the most advanced insulin preparations and delivery systems currently available, it is challenging for many people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to achieve target levels of glycemic management. Adjunct therapy in T1D consists of adding glucose-lowering agents besides insulin with the aim of lowering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and improving other health outcomes, including weight. It is an attractive potential strategy for achieving glycemic targets and other benefits in this T1D subpopulation. While not yet Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA)-approved for this use, incretin-based therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist-based therapy) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-1/2 (SGLT-1/2) inhibitors are being prescribed off-label for T1D.
Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUx), in which MICU1/2 serve as cytosolic Ca2+-sensing gatekeepers that set a Ca2+-dependent activation threshold. Coordinated control of MCUx activity is critical because mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake couples cytosolic Ca2+ signals to metabolic activation and must be regulated to prevent mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and bioenergetic dysfunction. We developed a mechanistic model that incorporates explicit MICU1/2-dependent MCUx gatekeeping and a thermodynamically constrained Ca2+ transport formulation that accounts for Mg2+ inhibition and membrane potential dependence. Cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics were simulated by integrating the MCUx model into a mitochondrial cation-handling model under multiple Ca2+ stimulation protocols. Because matrix-side Ca2+ regulation of MCUx remains controversial, we also evaluated a putative matrix-side regulatory mechanism by comparing simulations with and without an added matrix-side regulatory module, rather than assuming such regulation as a required feature of the MCUx model. The model reproduces key experimental behaviors across genotypes. In wild-type mitochondria, MCUx-mediated Ca²⁺ uptake is negligible below a cytosolic Ca2+ threshold (~0.2 µM), whereas MICU1-knockout mitochondria show constitutive uptake and MICU2-knockout mitochondria exhibit an intermediate, lowered threshold. Inclusion of matrix-side MCUx regulation transiently attenuated MCUx-mediated Ca²⁺ uptake over an intermediate mitochondrial Ca2+ range, producing higher transient cytosolic Ca2+ and lower transient mitochondrial Ca2+, while both cases approached similar steady states. In addition, cytosolic Mg2+ acts as a graded inhibitor of MCUx-mediated Ca2+ uptake, limiting mitochondrial Ca2+ loading. These results provide a quantitative framework for coupled cytosolic-mitochondrial Ca²⁺ dynamics across diverse conditions.
The One-HornedRhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a vulnerable species that inhabits the lowlands of Nepal. With the existence of several threatening factors, such as poaching, natural disasters, food toxicity, and diseases, their survival and overall health are continuously threatened. In this context, diseases caused by intestinal parasites can serve as a warning sign. However, the occurrence of parasite types and the predicted impacts of parasitism in these megaherbivores remained unclear and questionable in Nepal. The current study aimed to determine the presence of endoparasites (protozoa and helminths) inhabiting these hosts, which naturally live freely outside the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in Central Nepal. Sixty fresh fecal samples (N = 60) from five different sampling locations along the nearby territories were collected opportunistically using noninvasive methods and transported to the research laboratory. Coproscopy was carried out following standard protocols and laboratory techniques, including direct wet mount, concentration, and acid-fast staining methods. The results showed a 100% prevalence rate, with 16 species of intestinal parasites (Protozoa: 5; Helminths: 11). Furthermore, the chi-square (χ 2) goodness-of-fit test indicated a statistical difference between the frequencies of protozoan (16.7%) and helminth (98.3%) detections (p < 0.05, χ 2 = 5.04, degree of freedom = 1). Entamoeba sp. and Eimeria spp. were the most frequently recorded protozoa, while Anoplocephala spp. and Strongyle were the most frequently recorded helminths. Additionally, monoparasitic infection was not observed, and quadruplet infection (coinfection with four parasite species) represented the most prevalent pattern (25%). This is the first study to document protozoan and helminth diversity and multiparasitism in free-ranging rhinos outside protected areas in Nepal. Our findings of 100% prevalence and 16 diverse parasite taxa highlight the need for urgent antiparasitic drug treatment for those rhino populations.
Historically, felids are thought to follow a social structure where individuals are solitary and limit interactions with other individuals of the same sex. Behaviorally it is understood that individual male cats defend territories from others, which limits social interactions between individuals outside of reproduction. However, there are frequent reports that felid populations exhibit more social tolerance than previously described. In South Texas, Bobcat (Lynx rufus) densities are suspected to be high and observational evidence of trapping rates and camera trap data indicate that there may be a high degree of overlap among home ranges of bobcats in South Texas. Using data from VHF and GPS collared bobcats collected between 1985 to 2024, we investigated Bobcat home range overlap and proximity across South Texas. We calculated 95% autocorrelated kernel density estimates and quantified the degree of home range overlap between conspecific individuals. For those individual pairs that had > 13.2% overlap (the mean overlap of all pairs), we estimated whether individuals moved independently, avoided each other, or moved closer to one another. From 1981 to 2024, the average Bobcat home range was 7.91 km2 (95% confidence interval = 6.43 to 9.62 km2) and did not significantly change for males or females across decades. We observed 102 instances of home range overlap, 59 in VHF-monitored individuals and 43 of them in GPS-monitored bobcats. From our proximity analysis of GPS-monitored bobcats, individuals primarily moved independently of one another but did not avoid each other as much as might be expected, especially in same-sex comparisons. Using a long-term dataset on bobcats, we reveal that bobcats are not inherently solitary within our study system. Our work provides a framework for examining social interactions in other traditionally solitary animals. Históricamente, se considera que los félidos siguen una estructura social en la que los individuos son solitarios y limitan las interacciones con otros individuos del mismo sexo. Desde un punto de vista conductual, se entiende que los machos defienden territorios frente a otros individuos, lo que restringe las interacciones sociales fuera del contexto reproductivo. Sin embargo, existen numerosos informes que indican que las poblaciones de félidos presentan una mayor tolerancia social de lo que se había descrito previamente. En el sur de Texas, se sospecha que las densidades de gato montés (Lynx rufus) son elevadas, y la evidencia observacional proveniente de tasas de captura y datos de cámaras trampa sugiere que puede existir un alto grado de solapamiento entre los ámbitos hogareños de los individuos. Utilizando datos de gatos monteses marcados con collares VHF y GPS recopilados entre 1985 y 2024, investigamos el solapamiento de ámbitos hogareños y la proximidad espacial entre individuos conspecíficos en el sur de Texas. Calculamos estimaciones de densidad kernel autocorrelacionadas al 95% (AKDE) y cuantificamos el grado de solapamiento entre ámbitos hogareños. Para aquellos pares de individuos con un solapamiento superior al 13,2% (el promedio de solapamiento entre todos los pares), estimamos si los individuos se movían de forma independiente, se evitaban o se desplazaban más cerca unos de otros. Entre 1981 y 2024, el tamaño promedio del ámbito hogareño del gato montés fue de 7.91 km2 (intervalo de confianza del 95% = 6.43–9.62 km2) y no cambió significativamente entre machos y hembras a lo largo de las décadas. Observamos 102 instancias de solapamiento de ámbitos hogareños, 59 en individuos monitoreados con VHF y 43 en gatos monteses monitoreados con GPS. A partir de nuestro análisis de proximidad en individuos con GPS, los gatos monteses se movieron principalmente de manera independiente entre sí, pero no se evitaron tanto como cabría esperar, especialmente en comparaciones entre individuos del mismo sexo. Utilizando un conjunto de datos de largo plazo sobre gatos monteses, revelamos que esta especie no es inherentemente solitaria dentro de nuestro sistema de estudio. Nuestro trabajo proporciona un marco para examinar las interacciones sociales en otros animales tradicionalmente considerados solitarios.
Urban nutrition security is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather, public health emergencies, and interruptions to interregional food logistics, especially in import-dependent megacities. Guided by the Greater Food Approach, a Chinese policy framework that extends food security from grain sufficiency to diversified food sources, nutrition, and resilience, this study develops a scenario-based, nutrition-constrained assessment of Shanghai's emergency food-security capacity in 2023, focusing on a minimum energy- and macronutrient-balanced emergency standard rather than comprehensive nutritional adequacy. We combine a baseline net-inflow model, a static minimum transport-capacity ratio model, a nutrition-constrained emergency ration optimization model, and a dynamic response-threshold framework to identify food-category bottlenecks under observed consumption, healthy-diet targets, and a minimum energy- and macronutrient-balanced emergency standard. Shanghai's food system is structurally dependent on extra-local inflows: edible vegetable oil, beef and mutton, poultry, eggs, milk, aquatic products, and fruit all show high external dependence, whereas vegetables retain stronger local buffering capacity. Under normal-consumption targets, the principal bottlenecks are meat subcategories, with the system requiring about 70% of normal external transport capacity to maintain observed supply. Under the healthy-diet target, bottlenecks shift to fruit and milk, and fruit reaches a model-derived planning reference value of 1.33, suggesting that guideline-consistent fruit supply would require transport and supply support beyond the current normal benchmark under the specified assumptions. Under the benchmark callable-reserve assumption, local production and estimated reserves are sufficient in the model to satisfy the minimum energy- and macronutrient-balanced emergency standard for 15 days, while the model-derived bottleneck transport reference values rise to 0.34, 0.62, and 0.84 for 21-, 30-, and 45-day disruptions, respectively. These findings suggest that, under explicit scenario assumptions, emergency food resilience in Shanghai and comparable import-dependent megacities may depend not only on reserve size, but also on bottleneck food-category configuration, nutrient-equivalent substitution, reserve-release accessibility, and the minimum availability of external logistics corridors.
To systematically synthesise the benefits and harms of add-on oral antihistamines for managing atopic dermatitis (eczema). Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials. Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the European Medicines Agency databases from database inception to 5 May 2025. Randomised trials assessing add-on oral H1 antihistamines, H2 blockers, mast cell stabilisers (nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate), or their combinations. Paired reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using a modified Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2. Random effects bayesian meta-analyses synthesised atopic dermatitis severity (oSCORAD-objective scoring atopic dermatitis, 0-83; minimal important difference 8.2; lower better), itch severity (numerical rating scale, 0-10; minimal important difference 3; lower better), sleep disturbance, atopic dermatitis related quality of life, and harms. The network meta-analysis GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) and Core GRADE approaches informed certainty of evidence ratings. 47 trials enrolled 6230 children and adults with primarily moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. With moderate certainty, compared with placebo, adding a first generation or second generation H1 antihistamine likely resulted in a small reduction in atopic dermatitis severity (mean difference -1.87, 95% credible interval -3.47 to -0.27) and itch severity (-0.89, -1.41 to -0.37). Although statistically detectable, these effects are well below established minimal important differences (smallest change in an outcome that a patient would identify as important). With low certainty, all studied interventions may not improve sleep disturbance or reduce atopic dermatitis exacerbations. First generation agents probably increase cognitive impairment and may increase treatment discontinuation because of adverse events (risk difference 66 more per 1000, 95% credible interval 0 to 231 more; moderate certainty). Second generation agents differ in their risk of cognitive impairment (range of mean effects 0 more per 1000 for loratadine, 16 more per 1000 for levocetirizine, and 17 more per 1000 for cetirizine). Among patients with atopic dermatitis, adding H1 antihistamines probably results in a clinically unimportant reduction in atopic dermatitis severity and itch severity, and may not reduce sleep disturbance or atopic dermatitis exacerbations. First generation agents increase cognitive impairment and may increase treatment discontinuation because of adverse events. Cognitive impairment risk differs among second generation agents. These findings provide evidence against routine antihistamine use in atopic dermatitis management and will inform updated clinical guidelines. PROSPERO CRD42022345643.
This prospective cohort study examined whether work-family balance and work engagement were associated with employer-verified turnover over a 6-month follow-up among newly hired blue-collar workers in the automotive supplier industry, within the framework of the Job Demands-Resources model. The study was conducted in an automotive supplier company in the Bandırma Organized Industrial Zone, Türkiye. A total of 334 blue-collar workers with a job tenure of 0-6 months were included. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, a work-family balance scale, and the short form of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Participants were followed for 6 months, and turnover status was verified using company records. Descriptive statistics, group comparisons, chi-square tests, Spearman correlation analyses, and parsimonious adjusted binary logistic regression were performed to examine the factors associated with turnover. The median age was 26.5 years, and 76.6% of participants were women. At the end of follow-up, 16.2% of workers had left their jobs. Workers who left had higher scores on the "negative impact of work on family life" dimension, whereas work engagement scores were higher among those who remained employed. Job choice motivation was also associated with turnover, with higher turnover observed among those who reported negative reasons for choosing the job. Work engagement was negatively correlated with work-family conflict dimensions and positively correlated with family-work harmony. In the parsimonious adjusted logistic regression model, work engagement was significantly associated with turnover status. Higher work engagement was associated with lower odds of turnover (OR = 0.948; 95% CI: 0.902-0.996), whereas the negative effect of work on family, negative job preference group, and baseline tenure were not statistically significant after adjustment. Higher work engagement was associated with lower early turnover among newly hired blue-collar workers in the automotive supplier industry. Although work-family balance dimensions were related to psychosocial functioning and showed univariate differences, they did not remain statistically significant in the adjusted parsimonious model. Workplace strategies that strengthen engagement and support work-family balance may contribute to improved workforce stability in manufacturing settings.
Despite the global transition toward electrification, diesel engines continue to play a critical role in heavy-duty transportation, maritime operations, and decentralized power generation. Consequently, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) emissions from diesel combustion remain a major contributor to urban air pollution and associated public health risks. However, research on diesel emissions, atmospheric chemistry, and pollution-related health effects has largely progressed in separate disciplines, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the pathway linking engine emissions to human health outcomes. This review addresses this gap using a structured Source-Pathway-Receptor framework that connects diesel combustion processes, atmospheric transformation of NOₓ, urban exposure dynamics, and biological health effects. The review synthesizes findings from combustion science, atmospheric chemistry, exposure assessment, epidemiology, and environmental health research to explain how diesel-derived NOₓ evolves from an engine-level pollutant into a complex urban health concern. The analysis highlights major factors influencing population exposure, including near-road pollution gradients, street-canyon effects, and discrepancies between laboratory certification and real-world driving emissions. Quantitative epidemiological evidence linking short-term and long-term NOₓ exposure with respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes is also discussed. In addition, the review evaluates current mitigation approaches, including in-cylinder combustion strategies, exhaust after-treatment technologies, fuel-based solutions, urban planning measures, and exposure-reduction policies. Future research priorities are identified to support stronger integration between emission-control technologies, air-quality management, and public health protection. Overall, the review provides an interdisciplinary perspective for understanding and mitigating diesel-related NOₓ emissions in modern urban environments. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-026-00995-z.