This study investigated social network characteristics that affect opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment utilization among people who use drugs (PWUDs). Between December 2016 and April 2019, participants were recruited in Baltimore, Maryland. Eligibility criteria included being over 18 years old, having a positive antibody test result for HCV, and engaging in risky health behaviors, such as injection drug use in the past 6 months, unprotected sex in the past 3 months, and same-sex behaviors in the past 90 days. The primary outcome was the utilization of different types of OUD treatment (i.e., medication therapies, outpatient treatments, and residential/meeting/self-help). The bivariate analysis was conducted to test the associations between treatment utilization and self-reported individual, behavioral, and network characteristics. The logistic regression model was constructed to investigate network characteristics that predict treatment utilization. Of 334 participants, 84% received some type of OUD treatment. The adjusted logistic regression models suggested that total network size, support network, kin network, and networks currently in drug treatment were significantly positively associated with OUD treatment. Networks tied to healthcare utilization, such as networks helping participants get medical care for HCV, presented positive associations with treatment. Having partners living in the same household showed negative associations with OUD treatment. Our findings suggest the different composition of support and drug network associated with treatment status. The results indicate that networks may differ by treatment status and can inform network-focused interventions.
Gynecologic cancers remain a substantial clinical challenge, particularly in advanced stages, where treatment options are often associated with limited efficacy and poor prognosis. Given the emerging success of HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) across solid tumors, accurate evaluation of HER2 status is essential. This study investigated intratumoral HER2 heterogeneity in gynecologic cancers to refine detection accuracy and improve patient stratification for targeted therapy. A retrospective cohort of 416 patients with gynecologic malignancies was analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing on separate dual formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor blocks. HER2 expression was scored according to ASCO/CAP gastric criteria, and heterogeneity was defined as discordant IHC scores across blocks. Statistical analyses were performed using McNemar's test, and clinical predictors of discordance were identified through multivariate logistic regression. Across all tumors, HER2 IHC scores were distributed as 0 (49.5%), 1+ (33.9%), 2+ (15.6%), and 3+ (1.0%). HER2 overexpression was most frequent in uterine serous carcinoma, uterine endometrioid carcinoma, and ovarian clear cell carcinoma in our cohort. Intratumoral discordance was observed in 20.7% of cases, with the highest rates in uterine (23.9%, 21/88), ovarian (21.4%, 39/182), and cervical (18.2%, 26/143) tumors. Dual-block assessment revealed that most discrepancies resulted from incremental shifts in HER2 expression, primarily from 0 to 1 + or 1 + to 2+. This approach reclassified 13.5% of tumors originally reported as HER2-0 to HER2 expression. Intratumoral HER2 heterogeneity is common in gynecologic cancers and frequently results in underestimation of HER2 expression when single-block assessment is used. Dual-block evaluation improves detection sensitivity and may refine patient selection for HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates.
This study investigated the effects of directly incorporating untreated rosehip (RoHi) powder into electrospun poly(lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB)) (70/30, w/w) blends, focusing on the structural, morphological, mechanical, wettability, and biological properties of resulting nanofibrous mats. The average fiber diameter of pure nanofibers was 776 nm, while RoHi addition resulted in diameters ranging from 468 nm (1% RoHi) to 1496 nm (5% RoHi). FTIR analysis confirmed that the characteristic functional groups of RoHi were preserved within the polymer matrix without chemical interaction. The water contact angle decreased from 136.45° for the pure mat to 116.11° for nanofibers containing 5% RoHi, leading to an increase in liquid adsorption capacity from 1.49% to 249.38%. Cytotoxicity results demonstrated that all samples were biocompatible, with the highest cell viability (148.91%) observed for nanofibers containing 1% RoHi. In vitro scratch assays revealed enhanced fibroblast migration for RoHi-containing nanofibers, particularly within the first 24 h, with the fastest wound closure observed at 3% and 5% RoHi contents. DPPH analysis showed increased antioxidant activity from 27.68% to 63.84%, whereas no antibacterial activity was detected against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Overall, RoHi-doped nanofibers exhibit promising potential as wound dressing materials considered suitable for use in chronic wounds due to their antioxidant activity and bio-responsive wound-healing performance.
Clinical belongingness is one of the most important needs of nursing students for optimal performance in learning environments and, therefore, is of particular importance in clinical education. The present study investigated the relationship between clinical instructors' leadership styles and clinical belongingness among undergraduate nursing students. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and February 2025 among undergraduate nursing students from the fourth to eighth semesters at two nursing schools affiliated with Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. A total of 274 eligible students were invited to participate. After excluding 21 incomplete questionnaires, data from 253 students were analyzed. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-6 S), and the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience (BES-CPE). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses, with a significance level of 0.05. The mean total score of clinical belongingness in students was 100.04 ± 20.47, which is moderate. From their perspective, the highest and lowest mean scores of clinical instructors' leadership styles were for transactional (3.86/average per item) and transformational (1.91/average per item), respectively. Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between transformational and transactional leadership styles and clinical belongingness, and these two styles were associated with 18% of the variance in students' clinical belongingness. The results of this study showed a positive relationship between clinical instructors' leadership styles and clinical belongingness among nursing students. Therefore, it is recommended to provide training opportunities that familiarize clinical instructors with different leadership styles and encourage the use of leadership approaches that are associated with higher levels of clinical belongingness among nursing students.
A family of disulfide (S-S) containing thiol-vinyl-epoxy dynamic networks are presented. The networks are obtained through a dual-curing mechanism wherein a photoinduced thiol-ene reaction at room temperature is followed by a thermally activated, tertiary amine catalyzed thiol-epoxy curing stage, enabling controlled network development. Cured materials show reprocessability thanks to heat-triggered disulfide bond exchange. The influence of catalyst structure on curing behavior, thermomechanical properties, stress relaxation, and this reprocessability is systematically investigated. These solvent-free materials with a unique ternary composition exhibit efficient network rearrangement and successful thermal reprocessing, demonstrating their potential as sustainable materials.
Reducing mind-wandering during extended video lectures is an important but challenging goal. Prior research suggests that preset playback speeds influence attention and learning performance, but it remains unclear whether learner-regulated playback is associated with lower mind-wandering under constrained lecture viewing conditions, and whether this association differs across individuals. This research investigated the association between learner-regulated playback and mind-wandering, and whether this relation was moderated by learners' cognitive and non-cognitive characteristics. Study 1 included 100 university students (Mage = 19.73, SD = 1.77), and Study 2 included 96 university students (Mage = 18.99, SD = 1.17). Across two studies, participants were randomly assigned to either a self-paced group, in which they could adjust playback speed with the current speed visible on-screen, or a control group with fixed-speed playback. Mind-wandering during video lectures was measured using thought probes, followed by assessments of learning performance and related learner characteristics. Participants in the self-paced group exhibited significantly lower mind-wandering rates than those in the control group, while showing comparable learning performance. Within the self-paced group, intentional mind-wandering negatively predicted performance, whereas working memory, situational interest, prior knowledge and motivation did not. However, learning performance in the control group was predicted by working memory and motivation. These results suggest that allowing learners to regulate playback speed helps sustain attention, while the relative contributions of attentional processes and individual characteristics in predicting learning performance may differ across learning conditions. The findings contribute to understanding sustained attention during lecture viewing.
The plant sterol biosynthesis pathway is essential for the normal growth and development of plants, yet its relationship with plant virus infections remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the regulation of sterol methyltransferase 2 (SMT2), a key component of the plant sterol synthesis pathway, during rice stripe virus (RSV) infection. Our findings demonstrate that Nicotiana benthamiana SMT2 (NbSMT2) was regulated transcriptionally during RSV infection. Together with other sterol synthesis pathway proteins, namely sterol 4α-methyl oxidase 2 (SMO2) and sterol Δ(7)-reductase (DWF5), NbSMT2 acted as a positive regulator of RSV intercellular movement protein pc4 and facilitated virus movement. However, in response to RSV infection, NbSMT2 was polyubiquitinated and degraded through the ubiquitin-26S proteasome pathway mediated by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which conferred resistance to RSV. Additionally, NbSMT2 protein formed intercellular disulfide bonds to prevent complete degradation and maintain its protein pool. This study indicates that N. benthamiana appears to balance normal growth and development with antiviral through multiple regulatory mechanisms targeting NbSMT2.
Homalonotidae is a morphologically distinctive trilobite family well known in systematics studies, yet phylogenetic studies remain scarce. This study investigated internal relationships among taxa within the Homalonotidae family and reassessed the classification of problematic species. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted using a matrix composed of 36 taxa and 56 morphological characters of the trilobite exoskeleton. Analysis under the TBR algorithm recovered eight most parsimonious trees, from which a strict consensus tree was obtained. The results revealed substantial inconsistencies in the diagnosis of several genera and species, particularly due to the presence of paraphyletic and polyphyletic groupings. Some taxa, such as Burmeisteria fontinalis, Dipleura dekayi, and Burmeisterella braziliensis, remained phylogenetically stable and well-supported. Conversely, certain species traditionally assigned to Burmeisteria, including B. oiara and B. antarcticus, behaved as wild-cards within the trees, leading to their reclassification as Burmeisteria sp. Moreover, strong phylogenetic correlations were identified between species from different genera. These findings challenge the current taxonomic framework and allow for the proposal of new taxonomic arrangements. Furthermore, the relationships among the taxa indicate that Devonian Homalonotidae reflect a complex palaeobiogeographic system and further suggests that the Gondwana basins functioned as a dynamically connected network during the Devonian period.
The differential diagnosis between tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in patients with pleural effusion (PE) continues to pose significant clinical challenges. While conventional pleural fluid cytology has limited sensitivity, invasive diagnostic procedures are often costly or inaccessible, particularly in resource-limited settings. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic contribution of ratios derived from pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA), total protein, serum lactate dehydrogenase (S-LDH), and pleural effusion lactate dehydrogenase (PE-LDH) levels in patients with histopathological confirmed pleural effusion etiology. Specifically, the diagnostic performance of biochemical and hematological parameters, particularly the ADA/serum protein, S-LDH/ADA and PE-LDH/ADA ratios were evaluated for their ability to discriminate between TPE and MPE. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who underwent diagnostic evaluation and treatment for pleural effusion at a tertiary referral hospital between 1 November 2014 and 1 November 2024. A total of 1,003 patients with pleural effusion (397 TPE and 606 MPE: 409 primary, 133 metastatic, and 64 mesothelioma) were included, whose etiologies were determined using a composite reference standard based on clinical, radiological, microbiological, and histopathological findings, with multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation applied in selected cases where appropriate. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cut-off values. Patients with TPE were significantly younger than those with MPE (median age: 32 vs. 65 years, p < .001). Overall, 62.9% of the study population were male. ADA levels were significantly higher in the TPE group, whereas S-LDH levels were higher in the malignant effusion group. When ratio-based parameters were evaluated, the S-LDH/ADA ratio was markedly higher in patients with malignant pleural effusion and emerged as the most powerful discriminatory marker, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.938, sensitivity of 89.5%, and specificity of 91.3%. The ADA/serum protein ratio also demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for differentiating TPE, with an AUC of 0.929, sensitivity of 89.9%, and specificity of 93.3%. In multivariate analysis, the S-LDH/ADA ratio, ADA/serum protein ratio, and PE-LDH/ADA ratio remained independently associated with diagnostic discrimination between TPE and MPE. Biochemical ratios particularly the S-LDH/ADA and PE-ADA/serum protein ratios are reliable, minimally invasive diagnostic tools for distinguishing TPE from MPE. These ratios are especially useful in guiding clinical decision-making in settings where access to invasive diagnostic procedures is limited.
Agents targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) signalling pathway, including dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, exert biological effects through regulating long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). We previously identified ENSMUST00000155383 (lncRNA 155383) as a potential contributor to DPP-4 inhibitor MK-626-induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation in endothelial cells from hypertensive mice. However, the regulatory mechanism of GLP-1 on lncRNA 155383 and role of this lncRNA in endothelial homeostasis remain unclear. Mice were treated with shRNA adenovirus for lncRNA 155383 knockdown. Vascular function was evaluated by wire myograph. Molecular mechanisms were investigated using ChIP-qPCR, subcellular fractionation analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization and dual-luciferase reporter assays. LncRNA 155383 knockdown abolished the vaso-protective effects of MK-626 in hypertensive mice and induced endothelial dysfunction in normotensive controls. MK-626 activated cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), which bound to the lncRNA 155383's promoter, thereby driving its transcription. LncRNA 155383 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm, where it functioned as a competing endogenous RNA, sponging miR-214-3p to preserve plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 4 (PMCA4) expression. Up-regulated PMCA4 subsequently activated the Akt/eNOS pathway, restoring endothelial function. Similar ameliorative effect of a GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 on angiotensin II-induced endothelial injury in vitro was observed. GLP-1 might improve endothelial function via CREB-driven lncRNA 155383 transcription, which sponges miR-214-3p to up-regulate PMCA4 and activate downstream Akt/eNOS signalling. These findings uncover a novel molecular basis of GLP-1-mediated vascular protection and implicate lncRNA 155383 as a possible therapeutic target in hypertension.
Hoxa5 encodes a transcription factor essential for embryonic patterning and organogenesis, with sustained expression in hindbrain precerebellar nuclei during postnatal development. Given prior evidence implicating HOXA5 in synaptogenesis and early postnatal circuit maturation, we investigated whether its inactivation during this critical developmental window contributes to neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD)-related phenotypes. Using previously generated transcriptomic data, we identified multiple deregulated genes classified as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk genes in the SFARI database, several of which are associated with a cerebellar phenotype in mice. We then performed a comprehensive behavioral assessment across motor, social, stereotypical, anxiety-related, and attentional domains in a postnatal inactivation mouse model (Hoxa5-cKO). Motor coordination, learning, gait, and sensorimotor functions were preserved. Social behavior assays yielded no consistent genotype-dependent effects, although results were sensitive to analytical methods and cohort variability. In contrast, Hoxa5-cKO mice exhibited increased stereotypical behaviors, including elevated scratching and marble burying, in the absence of anxiety- or locomotion-related confounds. Importantly, interpretation of social and cognitive phenotypes was impacted by well-known constraints of behavioral neuroscience. We discuss these downfalls and propose additional guidelines. Altogether, our findings indicate that postnatal Hoxa5 deficiency selectively enhances stereotyped behaviors without broadly affecting motor or social functions. The data support a model in which HOXA5 acts as a modulator of postnatal precerebellar circuit connectivity and/or function, with subtle behavioral consequences that require further research in specific genetic or environmental contexts.
Computer aided designed/ computer aided manufactured (CAD/CAM) materials offer diverse options for prosthetic rehabilitations, yet correlation between materials' surface properties and aging through chewing simulation needs characterization. The aim of this study is to measure and evaluate the effect of three body wear on three CAD/CAM materials (poly methylmethacrylate (PMMA), composite resin and polyether ether ketone (PEEK)) regarding their microhardness and surface roughness. Seventy-two disc-shaped specimens (20 × 6 mm) were fabricated (n = 24/ group) from PMMA (Yamahachi PMMA Disk), Nano-ceramic Composite (Grandio Blocs, VOCO), and PEEK (BioHPP, Bredent). Specimens were subjected to 120,000 chewing cycles in a chewing simulator using a 3-body wear protocol with a pumice slurry. Wear volume (mm3) was measured digitally. Surface roughness (µm) and Vickers hardness (VHN) were evaluated twice: at baseline and within the wear facets post-simulation. Data were analyzed using Two-way and One-way ANOVA (P-value < 0.05), and Pearson correlation was used to measure the relationship between properties. One-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference between material types (P = 0.000*), with composite exhibiting the lowest mean volume loss (0.08 mm3), significantly outperforming PEEK (0.23mm3) and PMMA (0.55 mm3). For surface roughness, a significant interaction was observed between material type and wear simulation (P = 0.000*), while there was no significant interaction between them on surface hardness (P = 0.89). Composite significantly outperformed PEEK and PMMA regarding all tested properties. The 3-body wear simulation induced significantly different volumetric loss across all groups, with the magnitude of loss largely dependent on the material's specific composition and baseline hardness. In addition, the surface roughness and microhardness of three investigated materials were considerably impacted by three-body wear. PMMA have the lowest wear resistance, lowest microhardness, and the greatest surface roughness both before and after wear, while composites with high filler loading and high microhardness have the highest wear resistance followed by PEEK. After wear, the surface roughness of the composite is acceptable.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) growth and metastasis are influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME), which includes immune cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Since the novel integrin-targeted cytotoxin ProAgio can inhibit activated CAFs and endothelial cells, we investigated its combination with standard of care chemotherapies in genetically engineered mouse (GEM) and orthotopic murine models of PDAC. We established metastatic murine KPC-Ganji & Bassel-Luc (mKPC-GB-Luc) cell lines and validated them using bulk RNA sequencing. Two in vivo orthotopic mouse model were used to evaluate ProAgio with chemotherapy. mKPC-GB-Luc was used to evaluate the 5FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOI combination), and KPC-ML1-Luc was used to evaluate the gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel (GPTx combination). Immunohistochemistry was used to measure integrin β3, E-cadherin, and HIF-1α. Hypoxia was evaluated using pimonidazole. Stem cells, CAFs, and immune cell subtypes were quantified by flow cytometry. We evaluated the combination of ProAgio plus gemcitabine in a KPC genetically engineered mouse model (KPC GEM). Two sets of KPC GEM were developed. The first set was used for a survival study. The second set was terminated early and tumors were used for single-cell RNA seq and sequential multiplex immunofluorescence (COMET). Compared with the chemo regimen (GPTx or FOI), ProAgio, or sham, the combination of ProAgio plus chemo significantly modulated the TME, reduced tumor weight, reduced hypoxia, and eliminated metastasis to the lungs and liver. The combination of ProAgio and gemcitabine increased overall survival in KPC GEM mice compared with either treatment alone. Single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and COMET analyses demonstrated that ProAgio plus chemotherapy reprogrammed the PDAC-TME by changing activated CAFs toward a qCAFs (quiescent CAFs), macrophages from protumor to proinflammatory polarization, and activating natural killer (NK) cells, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T cells. Combination therapy inhibited PDAC stemness. ProAgio-treated CAFs in vitro exhibited reduced secretion of glycine and cysteine, vital metabolites that support stemness and tumor progression. These results confirm the novel mechanism of action of ProAgio, which includes reducing hypoxia and modulating TME. The current data provide evidence for potentiation of chemotherapy efficacy by ProAgio.
Early adolescence is marked by intensified identity exploration, yet little research has examined how meanings of gender and ethnic-racial identity are co-constructed within family relationships during the pubertal transition. The present qualitative study investigated how mothers and daughters construct and negotiate meanings of gender, ethnic-racial identity, and their intersection through dyadic conversation, and how these processes vary by daughters' pubertal status. Participants included mother-daughter dyads of Black girls (N = 45; Mage = 9.93, SD = .97; 69% identified as Black, 31% Black biracial) who engaged in structured identity dialogue tasks. Using reflexive thematic analysis followed by dyadic synthesis, we identified interactional processes through which identity meanings were initiated, scaffolded, negotiated, and stabilized. Across dyads, puberty functioned as a contextual intensifier, heightening emotional salience and social comparison in identity talk. In the early puberty dyads, mothers more frequently guided and defined identity meanings, whereas in the advanced puberty dyads, daughters increasingly asserted interpretive authority. Mother-daughter scaffolding operated as a relational coping process, with mothers and daughters jointly shaping how embodied change and social positioning were interpreted. Moments of misalignment and repair revealed how identity meanings were negotiated rather than transmitted. Grounded in the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory, findings position identity development during puberty as a relational, phenomenological process embedded within sociocultural context. By foregrounding dyadic interaction, this study extends developmental theory and highlights family dialogue as a critical microsystem linking pubertal vulnerability to identity formation.
International statements suggest using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in intensive care units (ICUs); however, the economic impact of GLIM-defined malnutrition in sepsis remains unclear. This study investigated the association between GLIM-defined malnutrition and in-hospital costs in sepsis. We conducted a sub-analysis of the prospective cohort study, Investing Long-term Outcomes of Sepsis or Septic shock, among medically managed critically ill patients with sepsis in 15 Japanese ICUs. Associations between GLIM-defined malnutrition and cost categories (low, moderate, and high) were assessed using multinomial logistic regression (reference: low-cost group), adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. Individual GLIM components were also examined. Total in-hospital costs and secondary outcomes were compared between malnutrition and non-malnutrition groups using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Among 259 patients, 111 had GLIM-defined malnutrition. GLIM-defined malnutrition was associated with both the moderate-cost (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-3.89) and high-cost classifications (AOR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.20-4.29). Among GLIM components, reduced muscle mass (AOR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.04-3.68) and reduced food intake (AOR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.39-4.92) were associated with the high-cost classification. After weighting, the malnutrition group had significantly higher median in-hospital costs (24,959 vs. 18,651 USD), longer hospital stays, and longer ICU stays than the non-malnutrition group. GLIM-defined malnutrition-particularly reduced muscle mass and reduced food intake-was associated with higher in-hospital costs in sepsis and may be a potential indicator of high-cost hospitalization.
The evolving U.S. drug market has fueled a public health crisis with rising drug use-associated morbidity and mortality, revealing a mismatch between current abstinence-based addiction care and the needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) to access evidence-based harm reduction services (HRS). Co-locating HRS into outpatient clinics could reduce mortality and improve clinical outcomes. We investigated barriers and facilitators of HRS implementation through kit distribution at three heterogenous outpatient addiction clinics using pre- and post-implementation focus groups. Using a qualitative description approach, we conducted 1-hour virtual focus groups and individual interviews with clinic staff and providers both pre- and post-implementation of kit distribution. Interview guides were based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to assess anticipated and actual implementation barriers and facilitators. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five providers and six staff participated in pre-implementation data collection. Dominant themes pre-implementation included participant enthusiasm for HRS integration and anticipated barriers of personal knowledge and external stigma against PWUD. Six providers and five staff participated post-implementation. Participants reported successful kit implementation with few actual barriers, though external stigma at the individual, health system, and community levels, along with issues related to patient use and interactions with child protective services, law enforcement, and pharmacies, occasionally disrupted the process. The lack of sustainable funding for supplies and labor emerged as a primary concern for long-term sustainability, with clinics actively seeking alternative funding sources. Implementation of HRS in outpatient addiction clinics was well-received by providers and staff and supported by pre-implementation trainings, site champions, and favorable implementation environments. Further efforts are needed to reduce stigma in the greater community and achieve sustainable funding for HRS.
Forests are vital for regulating climate and sustaining biodiversity, but climate change threatens their ability to do so, especially in the tropics. Our knowledge of how tropical forests and their constituent trees will respond to changes in climate is largely based on functional trait studies; however, few previous studies have investigated trait changes within individual tropical trees across decades, limiting our ability to predict the future of these forests. In this study, we leveraged historical and contemporary botanical specimens collected from the same individual trees in the southern Peruvian Amazon, measured a suite of leaf traits to test for individual-level trait changes over nearly 40 years, and then related these changes to concurrent changes in local climate. We hypothesized that trees have acclimated their functional traits in response to increasing air temperatures and drought intensification and that this acclimation should help to maintain stable leaf temperatures through time. In accord with our hypothesis, we found significant decreases in measured leaf traits, including size and shape metrics and stomatal traits, within individuals through time. We used these measured traits to model leaf temperatures through time, which increased faster than would be expected based on changes in air temperature alone. This accelerated warming of leaves was due to decreased stomatal conductance, a potential acclimation of trees to dry season intensification and rising [CO2], thus limiting leaf transpirational cooling. In other words, trees have decreased abilities to cool their leaves, and consequently they may be approaching critical thermal thresholds faster than they would in the absence of water limitation. Our study provides evidence that while individual trees are acclimating to climate change, tropical forests are undergoing increasing thermal stress and that intensifying drought may be elevating this risk.
Body temperatures of salmon do not always match the temperatures of their immediate environment. We investigated the relationship between varying ambient water temperatures and body temperatures of adult sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka using Newton's law of cooling and non-linear mixed models. The median estimated coefficient of heat exchange k $$ k $$ for O. nerka in this study was 0.09 min-1 with corresponding temperature change halftime and thermal time constant values of 7.7 and 11.1 min, respectively. There was little support for salmon condition factor and mass impacting k $$ k $$ , or differences in k $$ k $$ when the body was cooling or warming. Metabolically produced heat had a very small effect on body temperature. The bodies of the salmon did not instantaneously equilibrate with ambient temperatures. Model-averaged predictions showed that it would take approximately 60 min for the core body temperature of an adult O. nerka to equilibrate with ambient temperature (i.e., rate of body temperature change <0.01°C min-1) after moving into water temperatures 10°C cooler or warmer than their initial body temperature. Greater differences in body and ambient temperatures were predicted when the salmon experienced rapid and larger changes in ambient temperature. The differences in body and ambient temperatures experienced by Babine Lake O. nerka in this study highlight a need to exhibit caution when equating water temperature to the body temperature of fish in thermally heterogeneous environments across short timescales. The estimated values of k $$ k $$ and T m $$ {T}_m $$ from this study could be applied to other research requiring body temperature predictions for free-ranging adult O. nerka or possibly other similarly sized and shaped salmonids without using internal temperature loggers.
Introduction: Six-step is the most fundamental footwork skill in breakdancing (breaking), commonly performed across skill levels and characterised by lower body rotation while landing dancers' hands on the floor. Interlimb asymmetry in dance poses a recognized injury risk, and the potential impact of Six-step that depends on the dancer's axis side and direction of rotation should be considered. However, the detailed kinematics of this process have not been fully investigated. This study aimed to determine the side-to-side differences in the lower limb range of motion (ROM) required during a Six-step execution. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 10 breakdancers using a marker-less motion capture system. The maximum hip and knee ROM on both the axial and non-axial sides during the Six-step cycles were quantified. The ROM values between the corresponding joints were compared, and the correlations between the ROM of the hip and knee were analysed. Results: The axis limb exhibited significantly greater ROM in hip adduction and knee flexion than the contralateral limb (20.3° ± 8.4° vs. 9.2° ± 4.3° and 152.8° ± 3.4° vs. 142.0° ± 5.1°; P = 0.006 and 0.002, respectively). The knee flexion ROM on the axis side significantly correlated with the ipsilateral hip adduction and internal rotation ROM. Conclusion: The Six-step procedure requires asymmetrical maximum lower limb ROM, with greater hip adduction and knee flexion demands on the axial side. Moreover, on the axial side, hip adduction and internal rotation are coupled with knee flexion, concurrently requiring a large ROM. The implications of asymmetrical ROM demand warrant further investigation.
In the vanishing ball illusion (VBI), a magician feigns throwing a ball, and spectators report seeing it rise into the air, even though it never leaves the performer's hand. Although many studies have investigated factors that can modulate this illusion, none have examined the extent to which participants can detect this anticipatory error, or whether susceptibility to the illusion and this potential detection depend on available executive resources. In the present study, error detection was assessed by comparing the confidence in the perceptual experience of participants susceptible to the VBI (N = 64) with that of participants exposed to a real throw (N = 64). Moreover, working memory resources were manipulated by asking participants to memorize either two (low load) or four (high load) cross positions presented in a 3 × 3 grid. Contrary to our hypothesis, working memory resource availability did not significantly affect susceptibility to the VBI. Moreover, participants' confidence in detecting an error did not differ between those experiencing the VBI and those observing a real throw, and this lack of error detection was independent of available working memory resources. Our findings suggest that the illusory ball is interpreted and trusted as if it were genuine bottom-up information (i.e., a real throw). We discuss the mechanisms underlying this illusion that may account for the absence of error detection, focusing in particular on the roles of source monitoring and the automatization of perceptual simplification processes.