Quantitative analysis of soil potassium by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with a three-step progressive hybrid variable selection strategy.

Soil potassium is a crucial nutrient element necessary for crop growth, and its efficient measurement has become essential for developing rational fertilization plans and optimizing crop growth benefits. At present, data mining technology based on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy analysis has proven to be a powerful tool for real-time monitoring of soil potassium content. However, as technology and instruments improve, the curse of the dimensionality problem also increases accordingly. Therefore, it is urgent to develop efficient variable selection methods suitable for NIR spectroscopy analysis techniques. In this study, we proposed a three-step progressive hybrid variable selection strategy, which fully leveraged the respective strengths of several high-performance variable selection methods. By sequentially equipping synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS), the random forest variable importance measurement (RF(VIM)), and the improved mean impact value algorithm (IMIV) into a fusion framework, a soil important potassium variable selection method was proposed, termed as SiPLS-RF(VIM)-IMIV. Finally, the optimized variables were fitted into a partial least squares (PLS) model. Experimental results demonstrated that the PLS model embedded with the hybrid strategy effectively improved the prediction performance while reducing the model complexity. The RMSET and RT on the test set were 0.01181% and 0.88246, respectively, better than the RMSET and RT of the full spectrum PLS, SiPLS, and SiPLS-RF(VIM) methods. This study demonstrated that the hybrid strategy established based on the combination of NIR spectroscopy data and the SiPLS-RF(VIM)-IMIV method could quantitatively analyze soil potassium content levels and potentially solve other issues of data-driven soil dynamic monitoring.

Oral health-related quality of life among women with temporomandibular disorders and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or hypermobility spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: People with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSDs) are at greater risk of developing temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), perhaps due to the general joint hypermobility. There is, however, no information on how oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is affected in people with hEDS or HSD with TMD. The authors' aim was to assess OHRQoL via the 14-item, short version Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), as well as associated risk factors in women with TMD symptoms and confirmed hEDS or HSD. METHODS: A digital questionnaire was sent to members of The Swedish National EDS Association who reported having a confirmed or suspected EDS or HSD diagnosis in the health care system from January through March 2022. Then, a sample of 133 women with confirmed hEDS or HSD and TMD symptoms was constructed, and information on the following variables was collected: TMD symptoms, age, general health, oral health-related factors, comorbid symptoms, and psychological factors. Linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between these variables and the OHIP-14 summary score as the outcome. RESULTS: Most participants reported TMD pain symptoms (93.9%), temporomandibular joint clicking (89.5%), and crepitation (55.6%). The mean (SD) total OHIP-14 summary score was 21.0 (13.2). Oral function had the lowest impact (2.0 [2.4]) and orofacial pain had the highest impact on OHRQoL (3.9 [2.5]). Self-reported bruxism, poor general health, and comorbid symptoms were significantly associated with impaired OHRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Women with confirmed hEDS or HSD and TMD symptoms have a considerably impaired OHRQoL. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The multidimensional phenomenon of OHRQoL in this group needs to be considered in management strategies.

Evaluating the spatiotemporal land ecological changes in the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project area.

As a fundamental component of human existence, land is inextricably linked to human development, and its ecological functions are closely associated with multiple sustainable development goals. This paper presents a framework for constructing and optimizing ecological function space, with the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project area serving as a case study. A comprehensive land ecological index system is established, encompassing natural foundation, land degradation, land production, ecological structure, and ecological protection. An identity-discrepancy-contrary connection method is employed to investigate changes in regional land ecological functions before (2013) and during (2017, 2020, and 2022) the project's construction based on remote sensing data. The results indicated that the mean values of the land ecological index for each period were 0.1883, 0.1981, 0.2253, and 0.1370, respectively. The study calculated the connection, differences, and contradictions in the land ecological impacts across the counties, revealing a gradual decrease in differences and a growing prominence of contradictions. The land ecology of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project area is affected by the project construction, particularly within the construction area, showing an overall improvement. Most counties exhibited a trend of ecological improvement compared to the land ecology before the project's construction. However, after the project implementation, most districts demonstrated a trend of ecological deterioration. As the distance from the construction canal increases, the characteristics of each section and stage vary, generally exhibiting an exponential decrease in the land ecological index. The study highlighted the significance of enhancing the land ecological pattern, improving water quality, increasing water supply along the project, and alleviating groundwater overexploitation. The study can serve as a reference for land ecological protection and restoration in water transfer areas and river basins worldwide.

Protocol for COACH, an evidence-based intervention for improved head impact safety in youth American football developed using a community-engaged approach.

Subconcussive, repetitive head impacts sustained in collision sports may negatively affect brain health. American football practices are controlled environments amenable to intervention. Engaging community members is essential for successful development, implementation, and sustainability of viable interventions. The objective of this study is to develop and pilot test an evidence-based intervention to reduce head impact exposure in youth American football (i.e., football), using a community-engaged approach. This manuscript describes the co-design of the intervention and associated implementation plan and the study protocol for evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of the intervention and implementation plan. In the first part of this study, focus groups with parents and coaches, and individual interviews with organizational leaders associated with two teams at the middle school level were conducted. An anonymous survey assessing beliefs and perceptions of non-concussive head impacts was given to parents, coaches, and organizational leaders within the local youth football league. Following the football season, qualitative and quantitative data describing determinants of head acceleration events in football were shared with 12 stakeholders of coaches, league and school administrators, parents, an athletic trainer, and local university player development director. Together, we co-designed COACH (COmmunities Aligned to reduce Concussion and Head impact exposure) and implementation plan using a strategic planning approach. The preliminary effectiveness and feasibility were assessed in the second part of this study. Youth football players participating on the teams in year 1 (control teams) were fitted with mouthpiece-based head kinematic sensors which measure head acceleration events (HAEs). HAEs were collected and quantified during team activities. Preliminary effectiveness of the intervention to reduce HAEs was measured among two new teams pilot testing COACH with mouthpiece-based sensors, while simultaneously monitoring implementation of the intervention. We report our study design and evaluation, and opportunities and challenges with our approach. The results will inform a future full-scale pragmatic trial to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the intervention program. NCT04908930.

The role of impact on the meaning of generic sentences.

Generic sentences (e.g., "Dogs bark") express generalizations about groups or individuals. Accounting for the meaning of generic sentences has been proven challenging, and there is still a very lively debate about which factors matter for whether or not we a willing to endorse a particular generic sentence. In this paper we study the effect of impact on the assertability of generic sentences, where impact refers to the dangerousity of the property the generic is ascribing to a group or individual. We run three preregistered experiments, testing assertability and endorsement of novel generic sentences with visual and textual stimuli. Employing Bayesian statistics we found that impact influences the assertability, and endorsement, of generic statements. However, we observed that the size of the effect impact value may have been previously overestimated by theoretical and experimental works alike. We also run an additional descriptive survey testing standard examples from the linguistic literature and found that at least for some of the examples endorsement appears to be lower than assumed. We end with exploring possible explanations for our results.

Environmental and socio-economic evaluation of a groundwater bioremediation technology using social Cost-Benefit Analysis: Application to an in-situ metal(loid) precipitation case study.

Bioremediation can be an alternative or complementary approach to conventional soil and water treatment technologies. Determining the environmental and socio-economic impacts of bioremediation is important but rarely addressed. This work presents a comprehensive sustainability assessment for a specific groundwater bioremediation case study based on In-situ Metal(loid) Precipitation (ISMP) by conducting a social Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) using two different approaches: environmental Life Cycle Costing (eLCC) and Impact Pathway Approach (IPA). Externalities are calculated in two ways: i) using Environmental Prices (EP) to monetize Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results and metal(loid)s removed at field scale, and ii) following the IPA steps to determine the social costs avoided by removing arsenic contamination at full scale. The results show that, in the baseline scenario, the project is not socio-economically viable in both cases as the Net Present Value (NPV) is -129,512.61 € and - 415,185,140 € respectively. Sensitivity and scenario analyses are performed to identify the key parameters and actions needed to reach a positive NPV. For instance, increasing the amount of water treated per year to 90 m3 and assuming a 20 % increase in operation costs and a 60 % increase in construction costs can make the project socio-economically viable at the field scale, while a reduction in the social discount rate from a 4 % to a 2 % can lead to a positive NPV at the full scale. The approaches proposed in this work may be useful for practitioners and policymakers when evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of bioremediation technologies at different scales and regions, as well as human health impacts caused by contaminants at the current legal limits.

Methodological framework for impact evaluation of Building-Integrated Greenery (BIG-impact).

Building-Integrated Greenery systems, i.e., green roofs, walls, and facades, are Nature-based Solutions that make possible the renaturing of cities when there is no room for traditional greenery solutions. These green systems provide several ecosystem services at both the building and city level, such as urban heat island effect mitigation and noise reduction, support for biodiversity, runoff control, thermal and acoustic insulation, etc. However, once implemented in real cases, their impact is almost never evaluated. This fact limits the possibility of carrying out cost-benefit analyses that contribute to justifying their long-term maintenance, thus putting at risk their long-term sustainability and consequently the provision of benefits. Unlike existing approaches, the method presented here offers a comprehensive and practical tool that addresses the gap in BIG systems' impact evaluation, facilitating informed decision-making and promoting the long-term sustainability of BIG systems.•In its design, the current references at European and global level for building-integrated systems impact assessment has been considered.•It is easily replicable in any real project and enables the collaboration of involved stakeholders.•The method is unprecedented and allows a holistic assessment of the impact of BIG in real cases, in terms of ecosystem services provided.

Association between female infertility and stroke mortality: evidence from the PLCO cancer screening trial.

Objective: While infertility affects about 15% of women during their reproductive years, its long-term impact on stroke mortality after this period remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between infertility and stroke mortality in women using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial. Methods: We analyzed data from 75,778 female participants aged 55-74 years with a median follow-up of 16.84 years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for stroke mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Among participants, 14.53% reported infertility. During follow-up, 1,159 women died from stroke. Compared to women without infertility, those with infertility had a higher risk of stroke mortality (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41, p = 0.016). This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, race, education level, marital status, smoking status, body mass index, history of hypertension, history of heart attack, history of diabetes mellitus, birth control pill use, hormone replacement therapy, endometriosis, first menstrual period and pregnancy history (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.42, p = 0.029). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses yielded consistent results. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that infertility is associated with an increased risk of stroke mortality in women. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Re-emergence of vaccine-derived polio in the demographic Republic of Congo: Causes and consequences.

Poliovirus is a deadly disease that needs to be eradicated in the world. Recently, issues with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been raised in the country. This article aims to determine the increase in Type 1 cVDPV1 and Type 2 cVDPV2 in the DRC. Relevant articles on PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Web of Science were searched from 2010 to 2023. Our findings indicate that the Democratic Republic of Congo has struggled with polio outbreaks, with the virus primarily linked to cVDPVs produced from vaccines rather than wild poliovirus. These cVDPVs have the potential to revert to their paralyzing capabilities by evolving from the weakened virus seen in the oral polio vaccination (OPV). Several regions in DRC have reported cVDPV outbreaks of cVDPVs. Numerous cVDPV2 outbreaks were documented in various provinces during the 2017-2018 period. Addressing the cVDPV outbreak in the DRC requires a concerted global effort, involving collaboration among governments, international health organizations, and donor agencies. There should be global support and collaboration among governments, international health organizations, and donor agencies to address the cVDPV outbreak in the DRC.

Multifaceted analysis of microplastic pollution dynamics in the Yamuna river: Assessing anthropogenic impacts and ecological consequences.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants that pose significant ecological and human health risks, emerging as one of the most widespread anthropogenic pollutants in natural environments. This study investigates the abundance, characteristics, and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the Yamuna River, encompassing 29 sampling points across urban, rural, and industrial zones in and around Delhi, Mathura, Haryana, and Agra. Microplastics were identified and quantified using Nile red dye staining and Micro-Raman spectroscopy, with particle size distribution predominantly between 2 µm to 80 µm and the largest detected particle measuring 256.5 µm. The average MPs concentration was 14,717 ± 4444 L-1, with a significant abundance of hazardous polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). The study found that MPs were predominantly fragments and films (65.6 %) and fibers (30.6 %), with transparent particles being the most prevalent. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) consistently indicated high-risk levels (PLI > 100) at all sampling sites, highlighting substantial MP contamination. These results underscore the urgent need for continuous monitoring and the development of robust management strategies to address microplastic pollution in the Yamuna River. This study provides valuable insights into MPs spatial distribution and persistence, contributing to an improved understanding of their environmental impacts and guiding future mitigation and regulatory efforts.

A Robust Core-Shell Nanofabric with Personal Protection, Health Monitoring and Physical Comfort for Smart Sportswear.

Smart textiles with a high level of personal protection, health monitoring, physical comfort, and wearing durability are highly demanded in clothing for harsh application scenarios, such as modern sportswear. However, seamlessly integrating such a smart clothing system has been a long-sought but challenging goal. Herein, based on coaxial electrospinning techniques, a smart non-woven textile (Smart-NT) integrated with high impact resistance is developed, multisensory functions, and radiative cooling effects. This Smart-NT is comprised of core-shell nanofibers with an ionic conductive polymer sheath and an impact-stiffening polymer core. The soft smart textile, with a thickness of only 800 µm, can attenuate over 60% of impact force, sense pressure stimulus with sensitivity up to 201.5 kPa-1, achieve temperature sensing resolution of 0.1 °C, and reduce skin temperature by ≈17 °C under a solar intensity of 1 kW m-2. In addition, the stretchable Smart-NT is highly durable and robust, retaining its multifunction features over 10 000 bending and multiple washing cycles. Finally, application scenarios are demonstrated for real-time health monitoring, body protection, and physical comfort of smart sportswear based on Smart-NT for outdoor sports. The strategy opens a new avenue for seamless integration of smart clothing systems.

Hydrogel Films with Impact Resistance by Sacrificial Micelle-Assisted-Alignment.

Various strategies are developed to engineer aligned hierarchical architectures in polymer hydrogels for enhanced mechanical performance. However, chain alignment remains impeded by the presence of hydrogen bonds between adjacent chains. Herein, a facile sacrificial micelle-assisted-alignment strategy is proposed, leading to well-aligned, strong and tough pure chitosan hydrogels. The sacrificial sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles electrostatically interact with the protonated chitosan chains, enabling chain sliding and alignment under uniaxial forces. Subsequently, sacrificial micelles can be easily removed via NaOH treatment, causing the reforming of H-bond in the chain networks. The strength of the pure chitosan hydrogels increases 140-fold, reaching 58.9 ± 3.4 MPa; the modulus increases 595-fold, reaching 226.4 ± 42.8 MPa. After drying-rehydration, the strength and modulus further rise to 70.3 ± 2.4 and 403.5 ± 76.3 MPa, marking a significant advancement in high-strength pure chitosan hydrogel films. Furthermore, the designed multiscale architectures involving enhanced crystallinity, well-aligned fibers, strong interfaces, robust multilayer Bouligand assembly contribute to the exact replica of lobster underbelly with impact resistance up to 6.8 ± 1.0 kJ m-1. This work presents a promising strategy for strong, tough, stiff and impact-resistant polymer hydrogels via well-aligned hierarchical design.

Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Leads to Increased Vitamin D Uptake in Patients Undergoing Sleeve-gastrectomy - A Prospective, Monocentric Trial.

PURPOSE: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is often considered to be associated with macro- and micronutrient deficiency. A possible treatment option can be the implementation of pancreatic enzyme replacement (PERT) and may lead to better outcomes. We designed a prospective trial investigating the possible impact of PERT in patients undergoing MBS at a high-volume center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients who underwent either sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass procedures at a high-volume center. Patients underwent bariatric surgery and follow-up examinations at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Patients were stratified either to the treatment group with PERT or to the control group. The primary endpoint of the study was a change in BMI. Lab testing was carried out to measure secondary endpoints, including albumin and vitamin D levels. RESULTS: Overall, 204 patients were enrolled. Due to missing follow-ups, surgical complications, and side effects due to Kreon medication, 65 were excluded. Analysis of primary endpoints indicates that PERT does not lead to slower weight loss or BMI reduction. Analysis of secondary endpoints showed significantly better vitamin D levels in patients undergoing MBS and PERT. No statistical difference was seen regarding albumin. In both arms, fatty liver disease improved. Quality of life is positively judged as comparable by patients in both groups. CONCLUSION: Herein, we show an association between PERT and higher vitamin D levels in patients undergoing MBS. An optimized enzymatic environment due to PERT may therefore result in higher vitamin D levels and may improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing MBS.

Characterizing the Effects of Concussion and Head Impact Exposure: Design, Methods, and Participant Traits of the CARE 2.0 Study.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the design, methods, and participant characteristics of the second phase of the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium study ("CARE 2.0") of the effects of concussion and repetitive head impact exposure on neuropsychiatric health. METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective multisite observational study of male and female collegiate athletes and military service academy cadets and midshipmen participating in the CARE study. Participants were assessed at three time points: undergraduate baseline (UB), before departure from university or service academy (exit), and up to 6 years following graduation (postgrad) via an online battery of brain health assessments. Participant characteristics were compared across the three time points and four levels of head impact exposure. RESULTS: A total of 4,643 participants completed the exit assessment, and 3,981 completed the postgrad assessment. Relative to the UB assessment cohort, the exit and postgrad assessment cohorts differed with respect to the percentage of women, baseline Wechsler Test of Adult Reading scores, National Collegiate Athletic Association division category, sport contact level, and number of previous concussions. The median standardized difference across balancing variables, assessment time points, and degree of head impact exposure was 0.12 (with 90% of effect sizes ≤0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Although there were some statistically significant differences between participants across assessments, the effect sizes were modest, and overall the data suggest that the exit and postgrad cohorts reflect the characteristics of the baseline cohort. The CARE study design and its large, richly characterized sample provide an opportunity to answer important questions about cumulative and persistent effects of concussion and repetitive head impact exposure on neuropsychiatric health.

What matters to you? Public and patient involvement in the design stage of research.

BACKGROUND: Public and patient involvement is critical to ensure that research is relevant and addresses what matters most to the person through co-production. Involvement at the design stage where ideas for research are developed prior to formal ethical approval, can positively influence the direction of research design, methods, and outcomes. Although ethical approval is not required at this stage, being ethically conscious is imperative to prevent unwarranted unethical practices. To ensure this, the public and patient intervention at the design stage of a doctoral research project was benchmarked against Pandya-Woods 10 ethically conscious standards and the INVOLVE values and principles framework. Ethical approval was also gained for publication. MAIN BODY: Patient and public involvement was undertaken with two diverse patient and public groups as an agenda item in their regular Teams meeting. Thoughts on the research project, the timeline, what matters most to the individuals in the group with regarding the design and outcomes from the research, the best method for data collection for public research, and next steps were discussed. CONCLUSION: Public and patient involvement had a positive influence on the design and outcomes of a doctoral research proposal and held the researcher accountable for impact of the research on the public. Positive changes to the research from working with public and patients exploring 'what matters to you' included: An ontological change in the way that the research was conducted, identification of some main themes to run as a thread throughout the research, development of content for an international scoping review, identification of the best method for data collection for patient research, and accountability of the researcher to write a plain English summary at the beginning of each thesis chapter, and a summary report at the end for dissemination.

Public and patient involvement (PPI) is encouraged at every stage of research to make sure that research is relevant, and addresses what matters most to the person by working together as equal partners . This commentary reflects on how PPI at the beginning of a research idea can positively influence the design, methods, and outcomes of the research. This stage of research is known as the 'design phase'. It is important that although ethical approval is not needed for this phase, that the researcher acts in an ethically conscious way. The doctoral research 'What factors and influences demonstrate quality and impact of the Southeast Consultant development Programme?' commented on in this paper, has been mapped against some standards and has gained ethical approval for publication.Two public and patient groups (PPG) were approached to be involved in the design phase of this research as an agenda item in their regular meeting. The PPG lead sent an involvement information sheet and consent form prior to the meeting to aid decision making whether to attend or not. Those involved could leave at any point and all discussion was anonymised.The PPI positively influenced the research in the following ways: A change in the way that the research was conducted. Identification of main themes to be addressed based on 'what matters to me'. Development of content for an international scoping review. The best method for patient research. Accountability held of the researcher to write a plain English summary at the beginning of each thesis chapter and a summary report at the end.

Strong positive direct impact of soil moisture on the growth of central asian grasslands.

As the issue of global climate change becomes increasingly prominent, the grassland ecosystems in Central Asia are facing severe challenges posed by the impacts of climate change. However, the dominant factors, impact pathways, and cumulative and time-lagged effects of climate factors on various grassland indices remain to be explored. This study selected data from 1988 to 2019, including Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Net Primary Productivity (NPP), and Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD), to characterize grassland coverage, greenness, biomass accumulation, and water content features. Utilizing multiple linear regression, path analysis, and correlation analysis, this study investigated the dominant effects, direct impacts, indirect influences, and cumulative and time-lagged effects of climate factors on various grassland indices from spatial and climatic zone perspectives. The research findings indicate that over time, the grassland FVC and NPP exhibited increasing trends, while the LAI and VOD showed decreasing trends. Grassland indices are primarily influenced by precipitation and soil moisture (SM). The direct impact of SM on grassland indices was higher than precipitation. Vapour pressure deficit (VPD) has a direct negative impact on grassland indices. Grassland indices are subject to positive indirect effects from precipitation via SM and negative indirect effects from VPD via SM. Precipitation and SM mainly exhibited no cumulative and time-lagged effects on the impact of grassland VOD. VPD primarily demonstrated cumulative and time-lagged effects on grassland indices. The research findings offer valuable insights for conserving grassland ecosystems in Central Asia, as well as for shaping socioeconomic strategies and formulating climate policies.

Exploring the connection between EU-funded research and methodological approaches: insights from a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades, substantial investments have been directed towards supporting fundamental and applied research in Alzheimer's disease (AD), breast cancer (BC), and prostate cancer (PC), which continue to pose significant health challenges. Recently, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC) conducted a retrospective analysis to examine the major scientific advancements resulting from EU-funded research in these disease areas and their impact on society. METHODS: Building upon this analysis, our subsequent investigation delves into the methodological approaches-both animal and non-animal models and methods-employed in AD, BC, and PC research funded under past EU framework programs (FP5, FP6, FP7, and H2020), and explored the notable research outputs associated with these approaches. RESULTS: Our findings indicate a prevalent use of animal-based methodologies in AD research, particularly evident in projects funded under H2020. Notably, projects focused on drug development, testing, or repurposing heavily relied on animal models. Conversely, research aimed at clinical trial design, patient stratification, diagnosis and diagnostic tool development, lifestyle interventions, and prevention-outputs with potential societal impact-more frequently utilised non-animal methods. Advanced investigations leveraging imaging, computational tools, biomarker discovery and organ/tissue chip technologies predominantly favoured non-animal strategies. CONCLUSIONS: These insights highlight a correlation between methodological choices and the translational potential of research outcomes, suggesting the need for a reconsideration of research strategy planning in future framework programs.

Trends in shigellosis notifications in England, January 2016 to March 2023.

We reviewed all diagnoses of Shigella species notified to the UK Health Security Agency from January 2016 to March 2023. An overall increase in notifications of shigellosis was seen between 2016 (n = 415/quarter) and 2023 (n = 1 029/quarter). However, notifications dramatically declined between March 2020 and September 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 208/quarter) highlighting the impact of travel and social distancing restrictions on transmission. S. sonnei diagnoses were more affected by lockdown restrictions than S. flexneri, most likely due to a combination of species-specific characteristics and host attributes. Azithromycin resistance continued to be associated with epidemics of sexually transmissible S. flexneri (adult males = 45.6% vs. adult females = 8.7%) and S. sonnei (adult males = 59.5% vs. adult females = 14.6%). We detected resistance to ciprofloxacin in S. sonnei from adult male cases not reporting travel at a higher frequency (79.4%) than in travel-associated cases (61.7%). Extensively drug-resistant Shigella species associated with sexual transmission among men almost exclusively had ESBL encoded by blaCTX-M-27, whereas those associated with returning travellers had blaCTX-M-15. Given the increasing incidence of infections and AMR, we recommend that enhanced surveillance is used to better understand the impact of travel and sexual transmission on the acquisition and spread of MDR and XDR Shigella species.

Effects of wind turbine dimensions on the collision risk of raptors: A simulation approach based on flight height distributions.

Wind energy development is a key component of climate change mitigation. However, birds collide with wind turbines, and this additional mortality may negatively impact populations. Collision risk could be reduced by informed selection of turbine dimensions, but the effects of turbine dimensions are still unknown for many species. As analyses of mortality data have several limitations, we applied a simulation approach based on flight height distributions of six European raptor species. To obtain accurate flight height data, we used high-frequency GPS tracking (GPS tags deployed on 275 individuals). The effects of ground clearance and rotor diameter of wind turbines on collision risk were studied using the Band collision risk model. Five species had a unimodal flight height distribution, with a mode below 25 m above ground level, while Short-toed Eagle showed a more uniform distribution with a weak mode between 120 and 260 m. The proportion of positions within 32-200 m ranged from 11 % in Marsh Harrier to 54 % in Red Kite. With increasing ground clearance (from 20 to 100 m), collision risk decreased in the species with low mode (-56 to -66 %), but increased in Short-toed Eagle (+38 %). With increasing rotor diameter (from 50 to 160 m) at fixed ground clearance, the collision risk per turbine increased in all species (+151 to +558 %), while the collision risk per MW decreased in the species with low mode (-50 % to -57 %). These results underpin that wind turbine dimensions can have substantial effects on the collision risk of raptors. As the effects varied between species, wind energy planning should consider the composition of the local bird community to optimise wind turbine dimensions. For species with a low mode of flight height, the collision risk for a given total power capacity could be reduced by increasing ground clearance, and using fewer turbines with larger diameter.

Routine vaccination coverage at ages 2 and 7, before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the STARVAX surveillance system.

OBJECTIVE: A decline in routine vaccination coverage in children has been observed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unclear whether these declines were sustained over time. This analysis assessed changes in vaccination coverage at ages 2 and 7 years for routinely administered vaccinations before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Vaccination coverage was measured using yearly data from the Standardized Reporting on Vaccination (STARVAX) surveillance system between December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Four provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and New Brunswick) and one territory (Yukon) produced reports from their immunization registries and provided the Public Health Agency of Canada with the numbers of vaccinated 2-year-old and 7-year-old children. Population estimates from Statistics Canada and the Yukon Bureau of Statistics were used as the denominators. RESULTS: There was a decline in vaccination coverage in 2023 compared to 2019. In 2-year-olds, coverage for one dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and four doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine decreased from 89.5% to 82.5% and from 79.9% to 72.1%, respectively. Among 7-year-olds, DTaP (up-to-date) and MMR (two doses) vaccination coverage decreased from 77.1% to 68.8% and 86.3% to 75.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These declines are of concern and suggest that health care professionals should provide parents with accurate information regarding vaccines and encourage them to have their children vaccinated and keep vaccinations up to date.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Un déclin des couvertures vaccinales de routine chez les enfants a été observé après le début de la pandémie de COVID-19 mais on ne sait pas si ce déclin s'est poursuivi par la suite. Cette analyse a mesuré le changement dans les couvertures vaccinales de routine chez les enfants de deux et sept ans avant, pendant et après la pandémie de COVID-19. MéTHODES: Les couvertures vaccinales ont été mesurées en utilisant les données annuelles du système de surveillance Standardisation des rapports sur la vaccination (STARVAX) du 31 décembre 2019 au 31 décembre 2023. Quatre provinces (l'Alberta, la Saskatchewan, le Manitoba et le Nouveau-Brunswick) et un territoire (le Yukon) ont produit des rapports à partir des données de leur registre d'immunisation et fourni à l'Agence de la santé publique du Canada les nombres d'enfants de deux et sept ans vaccinés. Les estimations de taille de population de Statistique Canada et du Bureau de la statistique du Yukon ont été utilisées comme dénominateurs. RéSULTATS: Les couvertures vaccinales étaient plus basses en 2023 qu'en 2019. Chez les enfants de deux ans, les couvertures pour une dose de vaccin contre la rougeole, la rubéole et les oreillons (RRO) et pour quatre doses de vaccin contre la diphtérie, la coqueluche et le tétanos (DCaT) ont diminué respectivement de 89,5% à 82,5% et de 79,9% à 72,1%. Chez les enfants de sept ans, les couvertures pour les vaccins DCaT (vaccination à jour) et RRO (deux doses) ont diminué respectivement de 77,1% à 68,8% et de 86,3% à 75,6%. CONCLUSION: Ces baisses des couvertures vaccinales sont préoccupantes et suggèrent que les professionnels de la santé donnant des soins aux jeunes enfants devraient informer correctement les parents au sujet des vaccins et les encourager à faire vacciner leurs enfants et garder leur vaccination à jour.