Reduced fire severity offers near-term buffer to climate-driven declines in conifer resilience across the western United States.

Increasing fire severity and warmer, drier postfire conditions are making forests in the western United States (West) vulnerable to ecological transformation. Yet, the relative importance of and interactions between these drivers of forest change remain unresolved, particularly over upcoming decades. Here, we assess how the interactive impacts of changing climate and wildfire activity influenced conifer regeneration after 334 wildfires, using a dataset of postfire conifer regeneration from 10,230 field plots. Our findings highlight declining regeneration capacity across the West over the past four decades for the eight dominant conifer species studied. Postfire regeneration is sensitive to high-severity fire, which limits seed availability, and postfire climate, which influences seedling establishment. In the near-term, projected differences in recruitment probability between low- and high-severity fire scenarios were larger than projected climate change impacts for most species, suggesting that reductions in fire severity, and resultant impacts on seed availability, could partially offset expected climate-driven declines in postfire regeneration. Across 40 to 42% of the study area, we project postfire conifer regeneration to be likely following low-severity but not high-severity fire under future climate scenarios (2031 to 2050). However, increasingly warm, dry climate conditions are projected to eventually outweigh the influence of fire severity and seed availability. The percent of the study area considered unlikely to experience conifer regeneration, regardless of fire severity, increased from 5% in 1981 to 2000 to 26 to 31% by mid-century, highlighting a limited time window over which management actions that reduce fire severity may effectively support postfire conifer regeneration.

Inflammatory Activity of Epithelial Stem Cell Variants from Cystic Fibrosis Lungs Is Not Resolved by CFTR Modulators.

Rationale: CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) modulator drugs restore function to mutant channels in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and lead to improvements in body mass index and lung function. Although it is anticipated that early childhood treatment with CFTR modulators will significantly delay or even prevent the onset of advanced lung disease, lung neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines remain high in patients with CF with established lung disease despite modulator therapy, underscoring the need to identify and ultimately target the sources of this inflammation in CF lungs. Objectives: To determine whether CF lungs, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lungs, harbor potentially pathogenic stem cell "variants" distinct from the normal p63/Krt5 lung stem cells devoted to alveolar fates, to identify specific variants that might contribute to the inflammatory state of CF lungs, and to assess the impact of CFTR genetic complementation or CFTR modulators on the inflammatory variants identified herein. Methods: Stem cell cloning technology developed to resolve pathogenic stem cell heterogeneity in COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lungs was applied to end-stage lungs of patients with CF (three homozygous CFTR:F508D, one CFTR F508D/L1254X; FEV1, 14-30%) undergoing therapeutic lung transplantation. Single-cell-derived clones corresponding to the six stem cell clusters resolved by single-cell RNA sequencing of these libraries were assessed by RNA sequencing and xenografting to monitor inflammation, fibrosis, and mucin secretion. The impact of CFTR activity on these variants after CFTR gene complementation or exposure to CFTR modulators was assessed by molecular and functional studies. Measurements and Main Results: End-stage CF lungs display a stem cell heterogeneity marked by five predominant variants in addition to the normal lung stem cell, of which three are proinflammatory both at the level of gene expression and their ability to drive neutrophilic inflammation in xenografts in immunodeficient mice. The proinflammatory functions of these three variants were unallayed by genetic or pharmacological restoration of CFTR activity. Conclusions: The emergence of three proinflammatory stem cell variants in CF lungs may contribute to the persistence of lung inflammation in patients with CF with advanced disease undergoing CFTR modulator therapy.

Longitudinal Assessment of Prevalence and Incidence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157 Resistance to Antimicrobials in Feedlot Cattle Sourced and Finished in Two Different Regions of the United States.

The objective was to investigate the influence of cattle origin and region of finishing on the prevalence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and select antimicrobial resistance in E. coli populations. Yearling heifers (n = 190) were utilized in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. After determining fecal Salmonella prevalence, heifers were sorted into one of four treatments: heifers originating from South Dakota (SD) and finished in SD (SD-SD); heifers originating from SD and finished in Texas (SD-TX); heifers originating from TX and finished in SD (TX-SD); and heifers originating from TX and finished in TX (TX-TX). Fecal, pen, and water scum line samples were collected longitudinally throughout the study; hide swab and subiliac lymph node (SLN) samples were collected at study end. A treatment × time interaction was observed (p ≤ 0.01) for fecal Salmonella prevalence, with prevalence being greatest for TX-TX and TX-SD heifers before transport. From day (d) 14 through study end, prevalence was greatest for TX-TX and SD-TX heifers compared with SD-SD and TX-SD heifers. Salmonella prevalence on hides were greater (p ≤ 0.01) for heifers finished in TX compared with SD. Salmonella prevalence in SLN tended (p = 0.06) to be greater in TX-TX and SD-TX heifers compared with TX-SD and SD-SD. Fecal E. coli O157:H7 prevalence had a treatment × time interaction (p = 0.04), with SD-TX prevalence being greater than TX-SD on d 56 and SD-SD and TX-TX being intermediate. A treatment × time interaction was observed for fecal trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant and cefotaxime-resistant E. coli O157:H7 prevalence (p ≤ 0.01). Overall, these data suggest that the region of finishing influences pathogenic bacterial shedding patterns, with the initial 14 d after feedlot arrival being critical for pathogen carriage.

Metaphylactic antimicrobial effects on occurrences of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. measured longitudinally from feedlot arrival to harvest in high-risk beef cattle.

AIMS: Our objective was to determine how injectable antimicrobials affected populations of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. in feedlot cattle. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two arrival date blocks of high-risk crossbred beef cattle (n = 249; mean BW = 244 kg) were randomly assigned one of four antimicrobial treatments administered on day 0: sterile saline control (CON), tulathromycin (TUL), ceftiofur (CEF) or florfenicol (FLR). Faecal samples were collected on days 0, 28, 56, 112, 182 and study end (day 252 for block 1 and day 242 for block 2). Hide swabs and subiliac lymph nodes were collected the day before and the day of harvest. Samples were cultured for antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. The effect of treatment varied by day across all targeted bacterial populations (p ≤ 0.01) except total E. coli. Total E. coli counts were greatest on days 112, 182 and study end (p ≤ 0.01). Tulathromycin resulted in greater counts and prevalence of Salmonella from faeces than CON at study end (p ≤ 0.01). Tulathromycin and CEF yielded greater Salmonella hide prevalence and greater counts of 128ERYR E. coli at study end than CON (p ≤ 0.01). No faecal Salmonella resistant to tetracyclines or third-generation cephalosporins were detected. Ceftiofur was associated with greater counts of 8ERYR Enterococcus spp. at study end (p ≤ 0.03). By the day before harvest, antimicrobial use did not increase prevalence or counts for all other bacterial populations compared with CON (p ≥ 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in feedlot cattle is not caused solely by using a metaphylactic antimicrobial on arrival, but more likely a multitude of environmental and management factors.

Body image and disordered eating behaviors in Hispanic/Latino Youth: Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of certain disordered eating behaviors is higher among Hispanic youth compared to non-Hispanics. Understanding the role of body image and social attitudes towards weight in disordered eating may inform treatment in Hispanic youth. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth). Our sample included 1,463 children aged 8-16 years from four sites (Bronx, Chicago, Miami, San Diego) assessed in 2011-2014. Body image discrepancy score was calculated as the difference between perceived ideal body image and actual body image using two numbered visual graphs: adolescent (n = 728) or child (n = 735), each with slightly different scales. Questionnaires measured influences from social attitudes toward weight and disordered eating behaviors. Three disordered eating behaviors (dieting, overeating, and compensatory behaviors) were analyzed as the dependent variable. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, acculturative stress, and field center to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Mean body image discrepancy score was -0.79 for adolescents (SE = 0.08) and -0.50 for children (SE = 0.05), with a negative score signifying a perceived actual body image larger than their ideal. Body image discrepancy was strongly associated with dieting (dieting ≥5 times/year aOR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.53, 0.77) and compensatory behaviors (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.50, 0.85) among adolescents, and was strongly associated with overeating among children (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.61, 0.91). Significant associations were not observed with social attitudes towards weight. CONCLUSIONS: Associations observed with body image discrepancy and disordered eating behaviors can inform interventions in Hispanic/Latino youth, which should consider acculturative stress.

Policy, Systems, and Environmental Changes in Child Nutrition Programs: A Systematic Literature Review.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides healthy food to millions of children annually. To promote increased lunch consumption, policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies are being implemented in child nutrition programs. An evaluation of the current evidence supporting PSE interventions in school nutrition programs is needed to facilitate evidence-based practices across the nation for programs. This systematic review aims to determine the quality and breadth of available evidence of the effectiveness of PSE strategies on the consumption and waste of fruits, vegetables, milk, and water in the NSLP. The inclusion criteria required studies to occur in a United States K-12 school setting, data collection after 2012, report consumption and waste findings for fruit, vegetable, milk, or water, and be an original research article. Articles included in the review are restricted to positive or neutral quality. Thirty studies are included, policy level (n = 4), systems level (n = 8), environmental level (n = 10), and multi-category (n = 8). Results from positively rated policy-level studies suggest that recess before lunch may increase milk consumption, whereas removing flavored milk may decrease consumption. System-level studies of offering vegetables first in isolation of other meal components and offering spiced vegetables compared with traditional preparations may increase vegetable consumption, and locally procuring produce may increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Environmental-level studies such as water promotion strategies such as placing cups near drinking fountains may increase water consumption. Improving the convenience, attractiveness, and palatability of fruits and vegetables may increase consumption. Future PSE research in child nutrition programs should incorporate implementation aides and metrics into their study designs to allow a better understanding of how to sustain interventions from the perspective of school nutrition professionals.

Family Language Preference, Not Provider-Family Language Concordance, Predicts Integrated Psychology Treatment Engagement in a Spanish-English Bilingual Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: Monolingual Spanish speakers-many of whom identify as Hispanic/Latine-often experience barriers to accessing psychology services, including language access. Integrated primary care (IPC) clinics, where individuals receive psychological services within primary care, aim to improve service accessibility. However, minoritized populations are less likely to engage with these services than non-Hispanic/Latine White individuals. Few studies examine psychology treatment engagement within pediatric integrated clinics for Spanish-speaking families. This study investigated differences in psychology treatment engagement for Spanish-speaking families and the role of patient-provider language concordance within pediatric IPC. METHODS: A retrospective chart review examined data from a multiethnic sample of 887 patients (M age = 8.97 yrs, 55.69% male, 64.83% Hispanic/Latine, 6.99% non-Hispanic/Latine White, 41.71% Spanish-preferring) from an urban pediatric IPC clinic serving a high proportion of Hispanic/Latine, Spanish-speaking families. We examined the association between language preference and patient-provider language concordance on service engagement using hierarchical linear regression. RESULTS: Spanish-preferring families were more likely than English-preferring families to engage in psychology services. Working with a Spanish-speaking provider during an initial psychology visit was unrelated to psychology treatment engagement for Spanish-preferring families. CONCLUSION: Higher engagement for Spanish-preferring families seems to reflect the clinic's reputation as a center for linguistically accessible services. While linguistic accessibility remains important, our study did not detect an effect of language concordance during the initial psychology visit and subsequent treatment engagement. The findings highlight the importance of providing culturally responsive and linguistically accessible mental health services for Spanish-speaking families.

Cloning a profibrotic stem cell variant in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, irreversible, and rapidly fatal interstitial lung disease marked by the replacement of lung alveoli with dense fibrotic matrices. Although the mechanisms initiating IPF remain unclear, rare and common alleles of genes expressed in lung epithelia, combined with aging, contribute to the risk for this condition. Consistently, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) studies have identified lung basal cell heterogeneity in IPF that might be pathogenic. We used single-cell cloning technologies to generate "libraries" of basal stem cells from the distal lungs of 16 patients with IPF and 10 controls. We identified a major stem cell variant that was distinguished from normal stem cells by its ability to transform normal lung fibroblasts into pathogenic myofibroblasts in vitro and to activate and recruit myofibroblasts in clonal xenografts. This profibrotic stem cell variant, which was shown to preexist in low quantities in normal and even fetal lungs, expressed a broad network of genes implicated in organ fibrosis and showed overlap in gene expression with abnormal epithelial signatures identified in previously published scRNA-seq studies of IPF. Drug screens highlighted specific vulnerabilities of this profibrotic variant to inhibitors of epidermal growth factor and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling as prospective therapeutic targets. This profibrotic stem cell variant in IPF was distinct from recently identified profibrotic stem cell variants in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may extend the notion that inappropriate accrual of minor and preexisting stem cell variants contributes to chronic lung conditions.

Effects of physical activity and feed and water restriction at reimplanting time on feed intake patterns, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef steers.

In the feedlot, there can be a decrease in dry matter intake (DMI) associated with reimplanting cattle that negatively affects growth performance. This study was conducted to determine the mechanisms causing a decrease in DMI after reimplanting and identify a strategy to mitigate the decrease. Crossbred steers (n = 200; 10 pens/treatment; initial bodyweight [BW] = 386 ±â€…4.9 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design experiment. Cattle were implanted with Revalor-IS on day 0. Treatments included a Revalor-200 implant on day 90 before feeding with the following management practices imposed: 1) steers were returned to their home pen immediately after reimplant (PCON); 2) steers were placed in pens and restricted from feed and water for 4 h (RES); 3) steers were walked an additional 805 m after reimplant and then returned home (LOC); 4) steers were restricted from feed and water for 4 h and walked an additional 805 m (RES + LOC); 5) steers were given an oral bolus of Megasphaera elsdenii (Lactipro; MS Biotec, Wamego, KS) and were restricted from feed and water for 4 h, and then walked an additional 805 m (LACT). One hundred steers were given an ear tag to record minutes of activity (ESense Flex Tags, Allflex Livestock Intelligence, Madison, WI). As a percentage of BW, DMI was 5% greater (P = 0.01) from reimplant to end for PCON vs. RES, LOC, and RES + LOC treatments. Likewise, as a percentage of BW, DMI was 6.6% greater (P = 0.03) from reimplant to end and 4.0% greater (P = 0.05) overall for the PCON treatment vs. the LOC treatment. Overall, DMI as a percentage of BW was 3.3% greater (P = 0.02) for PCON vs. RES, LOC, and RES + LOC treatments. There was an increase in G:F from reimplant to end (P = 0.05) for RES + LOC vs. the LACT treatment. From these data, we conclude that restricting cattle from feed and water for 4 h after reimplanting did not alter subsequent DMI. Increasing locomotion had the greatest negative effect on DMI and growth performance. Management strategies to decrease locomotion associated with reimplanting would be beneficial to DMI and overall growth performance of finishing beef steers.

The effects of administering different metaphylactic antimicrobials on growth performance and health outcomes of high-risk, newly received feedlot steers.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the primary animal health concern facing feedlot producers. Many antimicrobial mitigation strategies are available, but few studies have compared feedlot performance during both the receiving and finishing periods following application of different antimicrobials used as metaphylaxis at arrival. The objective of this study was to compare antimicrobial metaphylaxis methods on clinical health and growth performance across both the receiving and finishing periods. A total of 238 multiple-sourced steers in two source blocks were used in a generalized complete block design. The four treatments included: 1) a negative control, 5 mL of sterile saline injected subcutaneously (CON); 2) subcutaneous administration of florfenicol at 40 mg/kg of BW (NUF); 3) subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur in the posterior aspect of the ear at 6.6 mg/kg of BW (EXC); and 4) subcutaneous administration of tulathromycin at 2.5 mg/kg of BW (DRA). The morbidity rate for the first treatment of BRD was decreased for the DRA and EXC treatments compared to CON and NUF (P < 0.01). Additionally, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and gain-to-feed (G:F) were greater (P ≤ 0.02) in the DRA treatment during the receiving period compared to all other treatments. The ADG was also greater (P < 0.05) for EXC than the CON treatment throughout the finishing period. Nonetheless, other growth performance variables did not differ among metaphylactic treatments during the finishing period (P ≥ 0.14). Likewise, no differences in carcass characteristics or liver abscess score were observed (P ≥ 0.18). All complete blood count (CBC) variables were affected by day (P ≤ 0.01) except mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.29). Treatment × time interactions were observed for platelet count, white blood cell (WBC) count, monocyte count and percentage, and lymphocyte percentage (P ≤ 0.03). However, there were no observed hematological variables that differed among treatment (P ≥ 0.10). The results indicate that some commercially available antimicrobials labeled for metaphylactic use are more efficacious than others in decreasing morbidity rate.

Implementation of a Multi-Component School Lunch Environmental Change Intervention to Improve Child Fruit and Vegetable Intake: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Nudge interventions are widely used to promote health in schools, yet implementation metrics are seldom used to understand intervention outcomes. A multi-component intervention consisting of cafeteria decorations, creative names, social norming taste tests, and flavor station components was implemented in three rural elementary school cafeterias by school nutrition services (SNS) and extension staff. Selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables at lunch were measured through monthly plate waste assessments over eight months (n = 1255 trays). Interviews were conducted with SNS staff (n = 3) upon completion of the intervention to assess implementation outcomes using validated acceptability and feasibility metrics. Consumption findings were generally inconsistent across schools and time points, yet fruit consumption increased at School 1 (p < 0.05) during the taste test and flavor station intervention months and School 2 (p < 0.001) during the creative names intervention months compared to baseline. Odds of selecting a vegetable at School 3 were three times higher than baseline during the taste test intervention months (odds ratio (OR), 3.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-6.5). Cafeteria decorations and taste tests had higher reported implementation metrics for acceptability and feasibility than other interventions. Thematic analysis underscored the facilitating role of extension support, as well as systems factors, which served as facilitators and barriers across schools and interventions. These findings suggest that nudge interventions are a promising strategy to improve vegetable selection and fruit consumption in school meal programs.

Analysis of polyethylene glycol (PEG) fusion in cultured neuroblastoma cells via flow cytometry: Techniques & optimization.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has long been used as a membrane fusogen, but recently it has been adopted as a technique for peripheral nerve repair. Vertebrate models using PEG fusion have shown improved outcomes when PEG is applied during repair of severed peripheral nerves. The cellular mechanism of PEG fusion in the peripheral nerve repair model has not previously been assessed via flow cytometry. PEG fusion was assessed in this experiment by dying B35 rat neuroblastoma cells with different color fluorescent labels. The different color cells were combined and PEG was applied in concentrations of 50%, 75% and 100%. The amount of cell fusion was assessed via flow cytometry as the percentage of double positive cells. Results showed increasing fusion and decreasing viability with increasing concentrations of PEG.

Flap Reconstruction for Pressure Ulcers: An Outcomes Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Historically, complication rates after pressure ulcer reconstruction utilizing flap coverage have been high. Patients undergoing operations for pressure ulcer coverage typically have multiple risk factors for postoperative complications. The purpose of this study was to examine a large patient series in the pressure ulcer population to uncover objective evidence of the linkage between risk factors and outcomes after flap coverage. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent flap reconstruction for a pressure ulcer between 1997 and 2015. The characteristics of patients were analyzed to determine those who had complications such as pressure ulcer recurrence, wound dehiscence, and wound infection. RESULTS: All patients (N = 276) underwent flap coverage of their pressure ulcers. The overall complication rate was 58.7% (162 patients). Wound dehiscence was the most common complication (31.2%), and the pressure ulcer recurrence rate was 28.6%. Multivariate regression for pressure ulcer recurrence revealed that body mass index <18.5 [relative risk (RR) 3.13], active smoking (RR 2.33), and ischial pressure ulcers (RR 3.46) were independent risk factors for pressure ulcer recurrence. Ischial pressure ulcers (RR 2.27) and preoperative osteomyelitis (RR 2.78) were independent risk factors for wound dehiscence. Diabetes was an independent risk factor for wound infection (RR 4.34). CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective analysis revealed numerous factors that are associated with high rates of major postoperative complications. Risk factors must be taken into account when offering flap coverage, and risk-reducing strategies must be implemented in patients before pressure ulcer reconstruction.

Two castes sizes of leafcutter ants in task partitioning in foraging activity / Participação de dois tamanhos de castas de operárias de formigas cortadeiras no particionamento de tarefas da atividade de forrageamento

ABSTRACT: Task partitioning in eusocial animals is most likely an evolutionary adaptation that optimizes the efficiency of the colony to grow and reproduce. It was investigated indirect task partitioning in two castes sizes; this involves task partitioning in which the material transported is not transferred directly from one individual to another, but where it is dropped by one ant to be picked up by another. In two separate approaches, it was confirmed previous results pertaining to leaf caching activities among Atta colombica with task partitioning activities involving leaf dropping among Atta sexdens rubropilosa , in which there is a correlation between the size of an individual ant and the leaf fragment it transports. It was also suggested that this correlation exists only in individual ants that cut and transport (CaT) the same fragment to the nest. When task partitioning occurs and individual ants transporting (T) leaf fragments cut by other ants, the correlation becomes looser or disappears. We also observed that CaT ants are smaller than T ants.

RESUMO: Particionamento de tarefas em animais eusociais é provavelmente uma adaptação evolutiva, que otimiza a eficiência de forrageio da colônia, gerando maior capacidade de crescimento e reprodução. Nós investigamos o particionamento indireto de tarefas, com o envolvimento de castas de dois tamanhos distintos. Assim, o material coletado por uma formiga não era transportado diretamente ao ninho, nem transferido diretamente de um indivíduo para outro, mas sim descartado por uma formiga e coletado por outra. Em duas abordagens distintas, nós confirmamos em Atta sexdens rubropilosa resultados anteriores relativos à ocorrência deste particionamento indireto de tarefas, observado em Atta colombica . Mostramos também que, assim como em Atta colombica , há uma correlação entre os tamanhos da formiga e do fragmento de folha transportado quando esta corta e transporta este fragmento ao ninho (CaT). Mais ainda, confirmamos em Atta sexdens que, quando o particionamento de tarefas ocorre e as formigas apenas transportam o fragmento de folhas (T) cortadas por outras formigas, a correlação desaparece. Nós também descrevemos que as formigas CaT são menores do que as T.