Equine-assisted interventions are increasingly used as complementary approaches to support psychosocial functioning, yet empirical evidence in justice-involved populations with histories of substance abuse remains limited. The present exploratory quantitative study examined the effects of a 12-week equine-assisted coaching program on anger regulation, quality of life, and human-horse synchrony in formerly incarcerated men, while also monitoring equine behavioral responses from a One Health perspective. Eleven male participants residing in a residential reintegration facility in the Netherlands completed self-report measures at baseline and post-intervention. Anger regulation was assessed using the Anger Bodily Sensations Questionnaire, and quality of life was measured with the PROMIS-29 v2.0 Profile. Human-horse synchrony and equine behavior were analyzed through structured behavioral observation of video-recorded sessions. Group-level analyses showed no statistically significant pre-post differences in anger regulation or quality of life. However, mean anger regulation scores showed a slight increase. Reliable Change Index analyses revealed substantial inter-individual variability: 40% of participants showed reliable increase in score, 20% deterioration in score, and 40% no reliable change. The RCI applied to PROMIS scores indicated decreases in anxiety (64%) and depression (45%), and improvements in social functioning (36%), while other domains showed mixed or stable patterns. Synchrony analyses, based on a smaller subsample, indicated increases in synchrony frequency and duration across the initial sessions, followed by a decline in the final session, possibly reflecting the development of relational attunement. Equine behavior varied significantly across sessions, and negatively coded behaviors occurred more frequently than positively coded behaviors, although these findings should be interpreted contextually rather than as direct indicators of compromised welfare. Overall, the findings suggest that equine-assisted coaching may support emotional awareness, psychosocial functioning, and relational attunement in this population, particularly at the individual level, while underscoring the importance of systematically monitoring horse behavior in animal-assisted services.
People who experience incarceration face a markedly elevated risk of tuberculosis (TB), yet the extent to which this vulnerability persists after release remains incompletely characterized. We analyze data from a prospective cohort study conducted in Lima, Peru, including 3,658 adults with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB and 6,335 household contacts aged 15-60. Recent incarceration (within the preceding five years) is reported by 187 (5%) index patients and 112 household contacts (1.7%). Compared with those without incarceration history, formerly incarcerated individuals are more likely to present with more severe TB disease at diagnosis and experience a higher likelihood of adverse treatment outcomes. Among individuals with available incarceration timing data, TB diagnoses cluster after release, with nearly three-quarters occurring within two years. At the household level, TB infection prevalence at enrollment is higher among contacts with a history of incarceration and among those exposed to an index patient with prior incarceration, including among those with relatively short incarceration histories. These associations persist after adjustment for demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors. Together, these findings indicate that TB-related vulnerability extends beyond incarceration and into the post-release period, underscoring the importance of timely diagnosis and continuity of care post release.
The extent to which we can predict evolution is crucial in our era of rapid anthropogenic change. Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the Atlantic coastal USA are a unique model to test for evolutionary predictability in an anthropogenic context, as multiple, formerly anadromous (migratory from ocean to freshwater) populations have been independently restricted to freshwater (landlocked) by dams built in the last 350 years. Landlocked alewives show parallel changes in life history, feeding morphology, and osmoregulatory physiology. To test if recent freshwater adaptations are repeatable and predictable at the genomic level, we compared whole genomes of four landlocked and one anadromous population representing the ancestor. We determined that repeated positive selection is rare, limited to a single region on a single chromosome. Despite this, candidate analysis revealed that regions of repeatability do occur - in some populations but not others - in genes with putative function in freshwater adaptation, most notably in those involved in osmoregulation. Surprisingly, the strongest signal of selection in the genome was not one of positive selection, but one of conserved, balancing selection in a single gene family known as protocadherins, which play an important role in neural circuit formation and neuron recognition. Our results suggest that constrictive demographic histories and/or a polygenic nature of the complex trait architecture limits parallel selection at the genotypic level despite parallelism of phenotype. This highlights the need to understand both demography and trait architecture when determining the degree to which evolution is predictable.
Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) programs facilitate continuity of care for people with chronic conditions recently released from incarceration. Despite widespread implementation of TCN programs and their association with positive reentry outcomes, studies have yet to examine clients' perspectives on the programs' most helpful traits for overcoming reentry barriers to health care. Therefore, we interviewed 19 clients from the TCN-affiliated North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (NC FIT) Program. Respondents' identified reentry barriers included financial challenges, difficulties with health care system navigation, and insufficient community resources. They reported that NC FIT helped overcome barriers by paying for medications and medical visits and helping them enroll in health care coverage. Respondents said that NC FIT community health workers' ability to foster positive client relationships was foundational to effective service delivery. Findings are considered in the context of recent Medicaid expansion in NC and the need to expand health care reentry services throughout the state.
Introduction. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is widely used for rapid micro-organism identification and has recently been explored for antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST).Hypothesis. Although MALDI-TOF MS has emerged as a promising tool for AFST, simplified and clinically applicable strategies for rapid fluconazole (FLZ) susceptibility detection in Candida spp. remain insufficiently validated. We hypothesized that a streamlined AFST-MS approach would demonstrate good categorical agreement (CA) with the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) reference method while significantly reducing turnaround time.Aim. To establish a simplified MALDI-TOF MS-based AFST approach for detecting FLZ resistance in Candida species.Methodology. Fifty-one clinical isolates and reference strains were incubated for 3 h in the presence of FLZ at two concentrations (32 and 4 µg ml-1) and in drug-free controls. Spectral profiles were compared with the EUCAST reference method.Results. Overall CA between AFST-MS and EUCAST was 85.2% (κ=0.7306). Species-specific accuracy was 100% for Candida auris, Pichia kudriavzevii (formerly Candida krusei), Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis; 92.9% for Candida albicans and 40% for Nakaseomyces glabrata (formerly Candida glabrata); however, these estimates should be interpreted cautiously given the limited number of isolates per species. All discrepancies were minor errors, with no major or very major errors observed. The method reduced analysis time from 24 to 3 h and enabled presumptive FLZ susceptibility detection with good overall agreement with the reference methodConclusion. These findings support the potential of MALDI-TOF MS as a rapid adjunct tool for antifungal susceptibility assessment and may contribute to earlier therapeutic decision-making.
Pressure injuries (PIs) are a common complication in people with reduced mobility or sensation and can be burdensome for individuals with PIs and their caregivers. Valuable insights and real-world challenges faced by individuals living with PIs can be captured through candid accounts posted on social media. Social media listening (SML) is a tool that can enhance the understanding of those with lived experience by offering firsthand accounts that are irreproducible from controlled studies. This study aims to capture the candid experiences of individuals with PIs and caregivers through social media. A noninterventional qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted using SML. Social media posts made on X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and YouTube between January and December 2022 were compiled using SML tools X Pro (formerly TweetDeck) and Awario, and using Boolean search terms. Posts were manually screened for relevance, and duplicates were removed. Relevant posts were hand-coded by two independent reviewers. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the posts. The search yielded 666 relevant posts from 498 unique social media users. Most posts were made in the United States (170/666, 25.5%), the United Kingdom (150/666, 22.5%), and Canada (62/666, 9.3%). Social media users provided detailed descriptions of the PIs, including the setting in which the PI occurred, the cause of the PI, and how the PI was managed. The majority of PIs (197/666, 29.6%) were reported to have occurred in the hospital setting due to a perceived lack of care from care providers, and local wound care was often cited (99/666, 14.9%) as a PI management strategy. Three key themes were developed regarding living with or caring for someone with a PI: (1) challenges experienced when living with or caring for a PI, (2) needs related to PI prevention and management, and (3) emotions experienced when living with or caring for a PI. Social media users frequently discussed challenges associated with living with a PI, including negative personal impacts and poor perceived treatment quality. Users also described a critical need for health care, education, and social support. Finally, users often expressed anger and/or sadness related to living with or caring for a PI. SML captured candid insights into the experiences, challenges, and needs of individuals living with PIs and their caregivers globally that may not be gleaned from controlled studies. Individuals with lived experience and their caregivers often struggled with negative personal impacts regarding their physical health and daily functioning related to PIs, further highlighting the urgent need to address barriers to appropriate PI care. Clinicians and policymakers should consider practices and policies that optimize the delivery of person-centered PI care in order to overcome challenges and needs identified in this study.
Millions of U.S. children experience maltreatment each year, which is associated with subsequent health risks, including psychopathology. We use data from up to 9692 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to update and extend knowledge about such health risks into the start of midlife. These data include detailed retrospective measures of supervisory neglect, physical neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, and also include data on health and health-relevant behaviors that were self-reported (general health, depression measured as CES-D negative affect subscale, smoking, alcohol use, and illegal drug use) and directly measured (BMI, hypertension, renal function, and cardiovascular disease risk) at ages 32-42. We use these data to (1) provide the strongest evidence to date about the persistence of health risks among formerly maltreated individuals approaching midlife and (2) examine the prevalence of such risks among two particularly vulnerable groups: those who experienced multiple types of maltreatment, and those who experienced frequent maltreatment. Our analyses reveal depression and smoking as salient midlife health risks among individuals who experienced physical neglect and sexual abuse. We also find evidence that multi-victimization and recurring maltreatment increases such risks but find no evidence of linear dose-response relationships between maltreatment frequency and health. Findings are robust to the inclusion of covariates that control for other individual-, family-, and neighborhood-level risk factors.
With over 4 billion people using social media platforms daily, decisions about what content to allow or moderate have profound implications for global public discourse, democratic deliberation, and users' psychological well-being. This study examines cross-national variation in content moderation preferences by exposing participants in 10 countries to a standardized example of hate speech: a hateful post modeled on text that X (formerly Twitter) had cited in its content moderation guidelines. Across contexts, exposure to such content triggers widespread support for intervention, with minimal differences based on the experimentally varied identity of the target. However, significant variation emerges across countries. The United States stands out for its comparatively lower support for moderation of hate speech, while countries like France, Brazil, and South Africa exhibit much stronger demand. Within most countries, political ideology predicts support: individuals on the right are less likely to endorse removal or suspension than those on the left. Crucially, values around freedom of speech versus harm prevention consistently shape preferences across all contexts. Those who prioritize prevention from harm are markedly more likely to support hard forms of moderation (e.g., account suspension and content take-downs). These findings highlight that moderation preferences are shaped less by the specific target than by individuals' deeper commitments regarding free expression and harm prevention.
Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) with Neutrophilia according to World Health Organization (WHO) 20221, formerly known as atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML)2, is a rare hematologic malignancy with poor prognosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is the only curative treatment, but prognostic factors for posttransplant outcomes are poorly defined. This retrospective multicenter analysis included 85 patients allografted over a 30 year period at eight German centers, representing the largest cohort reported so far. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for posttransplant outcome. Endpoints were overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and non-relapse mortality (NRM). After a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 5-year OS, RFS, CIR and NRM were 47%, 37%, 32% and 29% respectively. Age ≥50 years and bone marrow (BM) blasts ≥5% were associated with inferior OS and RFS in univariable analyses, while hemoglobin <8 g/dL adversely affected RFS. In multivariable analysis, younger age remained an independent predictor for improved OS and RFS, while higher Hb level were associated with superior RFS. Additionally, EZH2 and TET2 mutations were linked to increased relapse risk and inferior RFS, while TET2 mutations also negatively impacted OS. Although limited by its retrospective character, small sample size and incomplete molecular data, this study shows that long-term survival after allo-HCT is achievable in patients with MDS/MPN with Neutrophilia, particularly in younger individuals with low disease burden. However, relapse and NRM remain major challenges underscoring the need for optimized post-transplant strategies.
Ice hockey, curling, and skating are popular recreational activities across Canada's nearly 8000 ice rinks, yet potential contamination of rink ice shaving waste remains understudied. This study investigated the presence of emerging contaminants, including microplastics and persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) plastic-associated chemicals as co-contaminants in ice shaving from the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) located in the City of Toronto. Microplastics were detected at high concentrations ranging from 59 to 2063 particles per 100 mL of melted ice shaving, with particle sizes between 11 and 494 µm (median 38 µm) in diameter. Among 124 screened PMT plastic-associated chemicals, significantly higher levels were detected in ice-shaving water than ice-making source water, implicating the ice rink infrastructure and/or skater equipment as sources of contamination. These findings represent the first documented evidence of microplastics and PMT chemicals in ice shavings from an ice rink. They are significant because ice-shaving waste is disposed of via drainage to sanitary sewers and/or outdoor dumping, both of which are pathways for potential environmental contamination. Given the scale of ice rink operations nationwide, the results highlight a need for comprehensive multi-facility assessments, source identification, targeted contaminant monitoring, and improved waste-management practices, including accessible treatment technologies.
Diffuse Midline Gliomas (DMGs), which include the subset formerly known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), are associated with an extremely poor prognosis and a five-year survival rate below 2-3%. The devastating prognosis stems from an inherently invasive nature, a deep, anatomically restricted location, rapid cellular drug efflux mediated by transporters such as P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2), and an immunologically "cold" microenvironment. Coupled with limited Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability, these biological factors render conventional, therapeutic strategies minimally effective. Nanoparticles (NPs) offer novel opportunities to enhance drug delivery across the BBB by improving penetration-primarily through strategies such as receptor-mediated transcytosis or localized delivery approaches-thereby concentrating therapy at the tumor site, lowering systemic toxicity, and enabling integration of diagnostic imaging. Crucially, the distinct and targetable biology of this H3K27-altered disease, including alterations in ACVR1, PDGFRA, and CDK4/6 pathways, makes it a key focus for current nanomedicine research.This review evaluates how NP strategies have potential to provide adaptive solutions to overcome the hurdles in therapeutic development for DMG. It details the major NP platforms-including liposomal, polymeric, inorganic, and carbon-based nanomaterials- focusing on design principles like size, surface charge, and stealth coating to enhance targeted delivery for passive accumulation or receptor-mediated transport across the BBB. It explores theranostic applications that integrate real-time imaging (MRI, PET) with targeted, personalized therapy. Additionally, the role of high-Z metal NPs as radiosensitizers is discussed, highlighting their ability to increase DNA damage in tumor cells while protecting healthy tissue. Although early studies demonstrate strong in vitro efficacy, challenges in BBB penetration, intratumoral distribution and nanomaterial scaling still impede successful in vivo translation. Nanomedicine overcomes critical DMG barriers by enabling targeted, sustained, image-guided therapy. Achieving meaningful survival benefit for patients with DMG requires a multidisciplinary approach bridging neuro-oncology, advanced imaging, and nanomaterials development. Future research must prioritize four key areas: (1) optimizing NP properties for superior brainstem penetration, (2) leveraging DMG-specific markers for active delivery, (3) integrating theranostics for real-time monitoring, and (4) developing scalable, clinically compliant manufacturing.
The Radiology Reimagined demonstration, formerly known as Imaging AI in Practice, is presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting. It highlights how interoperability and semantic standards can facilitate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into radiology workflows. This integration encompasses examination ordering, scheduling, protocoling, image acquisition, examination interpretation, reporting, results communication, follow-up, and billing. Since 2020, Radiology Reimagined has become a prominent feature of the RSNA Annual Meeting, showcasing AI's role in clinical imaging workflows. The demonstration fosters collaboration between radiology and industry vendor partners, promoting the adoption of standards such as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine, Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), and Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise profiles. Realistic clinical scenarios demonstrate the utility and challenges of integrating AI tools into point-of-care systems. The complexity of Radiology Reimagined scenarios has increased, from simple pulmonary nodule and intracranial hemorrhage detection in 2020 to prostate MRI interpretation and amyloid-related imaging abnormality detection in 2024. Each year, more than 20 unique vendor partners participate, progressively incorporating new standards such as Integrated Multimedia Reporting in 2023 and improved support for FHIRcast (which synchronizes health care applications in real time) in 2024. Participants learn how to facilitate interoperability and integrate software into their clinical workflows, with an emphasis on practical advice and key considerations. Future iterations of the demonstration will aim to expand attendee engagement, formalize quantitative feedback, and broaden the use of emerging standards. Videos of the annual demonstrations are available on the RSNA website.
The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has highlighted the potential of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) as eco-friendly tools to enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental impact. Among PGPBs, members of the Actinomycetota phylum (formerly known as actinobacteria), and particularly Streptomyces violaceoruber, have emerged as promising candidates due to their ability to produce bioactive metabolites, promote plant growth, and modulate plant physiological responses. In this work, we investigated the effects of S. violaceoruber on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in vitro - grown seedlings using an integrated phenotypic, volatilomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic approach. Seedlings were analyzed at seven (T1) and fifteen days (T2) post-inoculation with S. violaceoruber. Phenotypic assessment of inoculated seedlings revealed no significant alterations in shoot length or biomass, while a remarkable increase in seedling root diameter and the formation of aerial roots was observed. Transcriptomic analyses showed substantial transcriptional reprogramming, with a greater number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at T1, in particular involved in the regulation of biological processes, metabolic pathways, and responses to external stimuli, such as light. Co-expression network analysis of four root-associated bait genes further confirmed that these pathways are primary targets of S. violaceoruber effects. Epigenetic profiling of treated plant roots revealed an increase in global DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine) levels, along with a significant enrichment of histone post-translational modifications associated with permissive chromatin at the bait gene loci. Overall, S. violaceoruber inoculation induced notable molecular and developmental changes in tomato seedlings, reinforcing its potential as a sustainable biofertilizer. These findings provide new insights into PGPB-plant interactions and contribute to the development of environmentally-friendly strategies for crop improvement.
The leading cause of brain cancer-related death in children is diffuse midline glioma (DMG). A particularly aggressive DMG subtype is pontine DMG (formerly diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, DIPG), which is caused by the histone mutation H3.3K27M. Because of its diffuse growth and location in a critical brainstem structure, therapeutic options are limited, and pontine DMG is considered universally fatal. The lack of appropriate animal models has hindered our understanding of the developmental origins and progression of pontine DMG, which in turn has limited the development of effective therapeutics. To address this barrier, several labs have developed mouse in utero electroporation approaches to express canonical DMG mutant oncogenes in the developing pons. In this manuscript and accompanying protocol, we describe a modified in utero electroporation strategy to generate DMG tumors in the developing mouse pons. Our protocol incorporates a single plasmid construct that expresses canonical DMG oncogenes, eliminating the need to co-electroporate multiple plasmids. We also employ a triple-electrode configuration to precisely target neural progenitors lining the fourth ventricle, which give rise to cells in the pons. As the embryos continue to develop in utero and postnatally, they form large, diffuse brainstem tumors with molecular characteristics of pediatric pontine DMG, allowing us to model the formation and progression of this deadly pediatric brain cancer.
Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) is an emerging yeast that causes bloodstream infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, and presents high resistance and virulence rates. To date, six clades have been established worldwide and the number of outbreaks caused by this microorganism has been increasing every year, causing concern in the medical community. Therefore, this study investigated the heterogeneity among clades of C. auris by evaluating the virulence profile and mechanism of infection using an in vivo model of Galleria mellonella. G. mellonella was infected with different clades (I, II, III and IV) of C. auris, C. albicans ATCC 5341 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 for virulence and histopathologic evaluation. Aggregative strains of C. auris InP13 (I) and VEN C6 (IV) had a greater rate of melanization and larval mortality among the C. auris isolates, therefore, being the most aggressive strains. C. albicans caused the most melanization among all strains at the highest inoculum concentration (106 cells/mL). Histopathologic examination showed a greater number of granulomas in the lower and upper extremities of G. mellonella. The granulomas ranged from 0.07-0.11 nm in diameter. All strains showed biofilms adhering to larval tissue, which was more evident for InP13, VEN C6 and C. albicans. Infiltration of tissues by yeasts, pseudohyphae and chlamydospores (a resistance structure formed by C. albicans in stress environments) morphotypes were observed. The aggregative strains were more virulent and had a greater ability to form biofilms and granulomas, showing heterogeneity among the different C. auris clades.
With the 2022 WHO Classification of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms1 came an important distinction between epithelial and non-epithelial neoplasms, and the possibility of composite tumor in certain organs, including the duodenum, the spine and the middle ear. In particular, the formerly termed gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum has been renamed as "composite gangliocytoma/neuroma and neuroendocrine tumor (CoGNET)." We present an unusual CoGNET arising in the stomach, displaying distinctive histomorphologies in primary tumor and metastases. Additionally, we discuss diagnostic pitfalls and highlight the importance of recognizing the combined features that can be seen in this rare, potentially malignant, entity.
Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) (C. auris), an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen, forms biofilms as a virulence factor. This study aimed to determine the effect of phenotypic switch on C. auris biofilm formation and virulence gene expression in mono- and co-culture with Staphylococcus aureus. Phenotypic switching was induced by prolonged incubation, and biofilms were developed in RPMI-1640, YEPD, SDB, and BHIYE. The biofilm biomass and total cell count were measured. SAP5 and ALS5 gene expression was quantified using qPCR. The 4th switched generation mono-culture biofilm in BHIYE produced the highest biomass (3.34 ± 0.08) and total cell count (5.66 ± 0.03 log10 cells mL-1). In addition, SAP5 and ALS5 expression peaked in the 2nd switched generation mono-culture by 10.43 ± 0.44-fold and 4.764 ± 0.01-fold, respectively. Co-culture biofilms exhibited significantly higher ALS5 expression in selected switched generations compared to unswitched C. auris (p < 0.05). In conclusion, phenotypic switching enhanced biofilm formation and modulated the expression of SAP5 and ALS5 in C. auris.
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods at all developmental stages, primarily feeding on terrestrial vertebrates. They serve as vectors for numerous pathogens affecting both humans and animals. Accurate tick species identification currently requires an integrated approach combining morphological, molecular, and proteomic techniques. As part of a tick-borne disease surveillance program conducted in 2023 in the Kaffrine and Tambacounda regions of Senegal, ticks were collected from livestock in domestic environments to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. and other associated microorganisms. Specimens were identified using morphological keys, molecular markers, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), while pathogens were detected using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and sequencing. A total of 212 ticks were collected, representing three genera (Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus) and six species: Amblyomma variegatum (n = 60), Hyalomma rufipes (n = 52), Hyalomma truncatum (n = 22), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (n = 59), Rhipicephalus linnaei (formerly Rh. sanguineus tropical lineage) (n = 9), and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (n = 3). Among these, 36.8% (78/212) tested positive for at least one microorganism. Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii were each detected in 7.4% (16/212), while members of the Anaplasmataceae family were found in 5.2% (11/212). Specific identification confirmed the presence of Rickettsia africae, R. aeschlimannii, Anaplasma ovis, A. phagocytophilum, "Candidatus Ehrlichia rustica", "Candidatus Ehrlichia urmitei", Theileria ovis and T. mutans. These findings highlight the necessity of combining identification methods to enhance taxonomic precision, especially for closely related or morphologically ambiguous specimens. The presence of zoonotic pathogens reinforces the need for improved surveillance and awareness among health professionals.
Older municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills that received organic waste over past decades struggle in aftercare with declining gas production and fluctuating gas quality, making gas extraction systems inefficient. Methane (CH4) oxidation systems, such as biowindows, provide a sustainable, cost-effective passive alternative for mitigating residual emissions. This study presents long-term monitoring of three pilot biowindows at an Austrian MSW landfill to replace gas extraction wells and reduce CH4 emissions. Over a 10-year period, CH4 emissions and their relationship with environmental factors were analyzed through periodic field campaigns during two monitoring phases (2014-2016 and 2021-2024). Monitoring included gas and temperature profiles, surface screenings, and chamber flux assessments. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and decision tree modeling, identified key factors influencing CH4 emissions, which were driven by a combination of temporal trends, gas composition dynamics, and environmental factors like ambient pressure and temperature. Results revealed a 60 % reduction in median hotspot CH4 emission rates (from 162 to 70 g/m2 d) at one biowindow between the two monitoring phases, while another biowindow demonstrated high performance over the period. In contrast, the third biowindow, installed at a newer landfill section, exhibited hotspots and increased emissions (median 80-265 g/m2 d across campaigns), likely linked to formerly installed and still remaining leachate and gas collection infrastructure, highlighting the need for site-specific interventions to address localized issues and optimize performance. The study confirms that biowindows require minimal maintenance during their first decade of operation and can achieve considerable CH4 reductions under appropriate conditions and well-designed construction.
17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 (17β-HSD10) is a multifunctional mitochondrial enzyme and a potential drug target for the treatment of various pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, five new benzothiazole-derived 17β-HSD10 inhibitors were developed based on structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses of previously published compounds. To evaluate the inhibitory effects, cytotoxicity, and therapeutic potential of these new compounds, several enzyme- and cell-based methods were employed. All prepared compounds exhibited high inhibitory potential and confirmed good biomembrane permeation. Three inhibitors (9b, 9c, and 15a) showed lower IC50 values in both enzyme- and cell-based assays than the formerly published hit compounds. The compounds were also found to reduce the pathological effects associated with 17β-HSD10 overexpression, although not the combined pathological effects of 17β-HSD10 overexpression within an amyloid-β rich environment.