A preliminary global investigation into potential impacts on successful captive breeding for two species of Rhyticeros hornbill.

Asian hornbills have limited ex situ breeding success, yet these species are some of the most threatened of birds, in need of managed breeding programs. To optimize breeding and increase the sustainability of such populations, it is necessary to assess and improve their husbandry and welfare. Evidence to improve reproduction can be gathered through global husbandry surveys. A survey was sent out to all European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and Association of Zoos and Aquarium holders of the wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) and Papuan hornbill (R. plicatus) to determine predictors for ex situ breeding success. This research found that pairs that have spent more years together (p = .016) and that adding additional proteins to the diet (p = .006) are two significant predictors of breeding success for wreathed- and Papuan hornbill pairs. This paper found a general trend that successful hornbill pairs prefer nest boxes that are situated outside (p = .054). The behaviors of calling to each other and sitting in close proximity showed a general trend and were observed more frequently in successful pairs and, therefore, could be good indicators of bonded pairs. We recommend that ex situ institutions allow their hornbill pairs time to form strong bonds, and that pair compatibility is monitored regularly to ensure that such interactions are positive and not consistently negative. An increase in the percentage of dietary proteins, prior and during the breeding season appears to stimulate pairs to breed. If the management and husbandry alterations presented in this study are implemented, the sustainability of Rhyticeros hornbill populations may be enhanced.

COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine policies in the Indo-Pacific Region: A mixed-methods study of experiences of public health professionals.

Contact tracing and quarantine are valuable public health tools to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and control the epidemic. Many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) adopted global contact tracing and quarantine guidelines but were unable to contextualise the guidance into policies and practices that were relevant to their setting. Therefore, we examine contact tracing policies and practices in the Indo-Pacific region and the need to design context-specific policies. We conducted a mixed-methods study, including a cross-sectional online survey followed by key-informant interviews (KIIs). Using convenience snowball sampling, we invited public health professionals primarily involved in COVID-19 pandemic response from the Indo-Pacific region. We undertook descriptive analyses using counts and percentages for survey data and framework analysis for qualitative data. Seventy-seven public health professionals participated in the survey, of whom ten also participated in the KIIs. The study identified significant gaps between policies and the local contexts. Factors that broaden the gaps were limited knowledge of the changing dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, poor leadership, and coordination, little or no formal training on contact tracing, poor understanding of the guideline recommendations, limited resources, community resistance and mistrust, social stigmatisation and fear of being ostracised, and discrimination. This study revealed substantial disparities between policies and local contexts, significantly influencing policy implementation at national, provincial, and district levels across the studied countries. To bridge these gaps, we advocate for national contact tracing and quarantine guidelines explicitly addressing the quarantine needs of specific demographics, including children, pregnant women, prisoners, and individuals affected by social exclusion issues. Furthermore, we propose strengthening contact tracing training programs, urging revised guidelines to account for social, cultural, and infrastructural nuances influencing contact tracing and quarantine implementation. We also recommend engaging local NGOs, faith-based organisations, and local administrations to reinforce community connections and strengthen contact tracing.

Hyperactive mTORC1/4EBP1 Signaling Dysregulates Proteostasis and Accelerates Cardiac Aging.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has a major impact on aging by regulation of proteostasis. It is well established that mTORC1 signaling is hyperactivated with aging and age-related diseases. Previous studies have shown that partial inhibition of mTOR signaling by rapamycin reverses the age-related decline in cardiac function and structure in old mice. However, the downstream signaling pathways involved in this protection against cardiac aging have not been established. TORC1 phosphorylates 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1) to promote the initiation of cap-dependent translation. The aim of this project is to examine the role of the mTORC1/4EBP1 axis in age-related cardiac dysfunction. We utilized a whole-body 4EBP1 KO mouse model, which mimics a hyperactive 4EBP1/eIF4E axis, to investigate the effects of hyperactive mTORC1/4EBP1 axis in cardiac aging. Echocardiographic measurements revealed that young 4EBP1 KO mice have no difference in cardiac function at baseline compared to WT mice. Interestingly, middle-aged (14-15-month-old) 4EBP1 KO mice show impaired diastolic function and myocardial performance compared to age-matched WT mice and their diastolic function and myocardial performance are at similar levels as 24-month-old WT mice, suggesting that 4EBP1 KO mice experience accelerated cardiac aging. Old 4EBP1 KO mice show further declines in systolic and diastolic function compared to middle-aged 4EBP1 KO mice and have worse systolic and diastolic function than age-matched old WT mice. Gene expression levels of heart failure markers are not different between 4EBP1 KO and WT mice at these advanced ages. However, ribosomal biogenesis and overall protein ubiquitination are significantly increased in 4EBP1 KO mice when compared to WT, which suggests dysregulated proteostasis. Together, these results show that a hyperactive 4EBP1/eIF4E axis accelerates cardiac aging, potentially by dysregulating proteostasis.

The first two blastomeres contribute unequally to the human embryo.

Retrospective lineage reconstruction of humans predicts that dramatic clonal imbalances in the body can be traced to the 2-cell stage embryo. However, whether and how such clonal asymmetries arise in the embryo is unclear. Here, we performed prospective lineage tracing of human embryos using live imaging, non-invasive cell labeling, and computational predictions to determine the contribution of each 2-cell stage blastomere to the epiblast (body), hypoblast (yolk sac), and trophectoderm (placenta). We show that the majority of epiblast cells originate from only one blastomere of the 2-cell stage embryo. We observe that only one to three cells become internalized at the 8-to-16-cell stage transition. Moreover, these internalized cells are more frequently derived from the first cell to divide at the 2-cell stage. We propose that cell division dynamics and a cell internalization bottleneck in the early embryo establish asymmetry in the clonal composition of the future human body.

Vaccine-Preventable Disease Outbreaks among Healthcare Workers: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in health care workers (HCWs) can result in morbidity and mortality and cause significant disruptions to health care services, patients and visitors as well as an added burden on the health system. This scoping review is aimed to describe the epidemiology of VPD outbreaks in HCW, caused by diseases which are prevented by the ten vaccines recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for HCWs. METHODS: In April 2022 CINAHL, MEDLINE, Global Health and EMBASE were searched for all articles reporting on VPD outbreaks in HCWs since the year 2000. Articles were included regardless of language and study type. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of VPD outbreaks were described. RESULTS: Our search found 9363 articles, of which 216 met inclusion criteria. Studies describing six of the ten VPDs were found: influenza, measles, varicella, tuberculosis, pertussis and rubella. Most articles (93%) were from high- and upper middle-income countries. While most outbreaks occurred in hospitals, several influenza outbreaks were reported in long term care facilities. Based on available data, vaccination rates amongst HCWs were rarely reported. CONCLUSION: We describe several VPD outbreaks in HCWs from 2000 to April 2022. The review emphasises the need to understand the factors influencing outbreaks in HCWs and highlight importance of vaccination amongst HCWs.

Population growth of two limno-terrestrial Antarctic microinvertebrates in different aqueous soil media.

Terrestrial microinvertebrates provide important carbon and nutrient cycling roles in soil environments, particularly in Antarctica where larger macroinvertebrates are absent. The environmental preferences and ecology of rotifers and tardigrades in terrestrial environments, including in Antarctica, are not as well understood as their temperate aquatic counterparts. Developing laboratory cultures is critical to provide adequate numbers of individuals for controlled laboratory experimentation. In this study, we explore aspects of optimising laboratory culturing for two terrestrially sourced Antarctic microinvertebrates, a rotifer (Habrotrocha sp.) and a tardigrade (Acutuncus antarcticus). We tested a soil elutriate and a balanced salt solution (BSS) to determine their suitability as culturing media. Substantial population growth of rotifers and tardigrades was observed in both media, with mean rotifer population size increasing from 5 to 448 ± 95 (soil elutriate) and 274 ± 78 (BSS) individuals over 60 days and mean tardigrade population size increasing from 5 to 187 ± 65 (soil elutriate) and 138 ± 37 (BSS) over 160 days. We also tested for optimal dilution of soil elutriate in rotifer cultures, with 20-80% dilutions producing the largest population growth with the least variation in the 40% dilution after 36 days. Culturing methods developed in this study are recommended for use with Antarctica microinvertebrates and may be suitable for similar limno-terrestrial microinvertebrates from other regions.

Epidemiology of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities during postvaccine period: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to define the epidemiology of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities (ACFs) during the postvaccine period, including vaccine effectiveness (VE) for this high-risk group. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched through 1 September 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Any original observational studies and trials reporting data on COVID-19 outbreaks among the partially/fully vaccinated residents from ACFs during or after the worldwide implementation of vaccine roll-out. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: We estimated the attack rate, case fatality rate, mortality rate and VE during postvaccine period. Random effect model was adopted for meta-analysis. Quality assessment on all included studies was performed using the Meta Quality Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: 38 articles were included from 12 countries reporting 79 outbreaks with 1708 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 78 ACFs. The pooled attack rate was 28% (95% CI 20% to 37%) among the fully vaccinated residents. Two-thirds (62.5%) of the index cases were unvaccinated healthcare professionals (eg, physicians, nurses) and caregivers. Unvaccinated residents had a significantly higher rates (12%) (95% CI 7% to 19%) of mortality compared with the vaccinated residents (2%) (95% CI% 1 to 4%) and the post-COVID-19 vaccine estimates for case fatality rate (13% vs 23%) and hospitalisation rate (17% vs 37%) were substantially lower. VE in preventing disease among residents in ACFs was 73% (95% CI 49% to 86). Overall, the included studies were heterogeneous in nature, however, the risk of bias was low to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reaffirmed the impact of vaccination as a key public health measure to minimise the burden of COVID-19 in ACFs. Facilities with higher crowding indexes should be prioritised for vaccination and should advocate for higher vaccination targets among staff and residents as a critical intervention strategy to minimise disease burden in this vulnerable population.

Experience of pediatric to adult transition in immunology services: patient experience questionnaire and micro-costing analysis.

The effective transition from pediatric to adult care for individuals with chronic medical conditions should address the medical, psychosocial and educational needs of the cohort. The views and experiences of service users and their families are an integral component of service development. This study sought to evaluate the current provision of transition services from pediatric immunology services to adult immunology services for patients with a diagnosis of an inborn error of immunity at St. James's Hospital, Dublin. We gathered patient perspectives on the experience of the transition process using a structured survey. In addition, we adopted a micro-costing technique to estimate the cost of implementing the current standard of care for these patients. Results of a micro-costing analysis suggest that the most significant component of cost in assessing these patients is on laboratory investigation, an area where there is likely significant duplication between pediatric and adult care. Perspectives from patients suggested that the transition period went well for the majority of the cohort and that they felt ready to move to adult services, but the transition was not without complications in areas such as self-advocacy and medication management. The transition process may benefit from enhanced communication and collaboration between pediatric and adult services.

CD36 regulates macrophage and endothelial cell activation and multinucleate giant cell formation in anti neutrophil cytoplasm antibody vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate CD36 in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a condition characterized by monocyte/macrophage activation and vascular damage. METHODS: CD36 expression was assessed in AAV patients and healthy controls (HC). The impact of palmitic acid (PA) stimulation on multinucleate giant cell (MNGC) formation, macrophage, and endothelial cell activation, with or without CD36 knockdown, was examined. RESULTS: CD36 was overexpressed on AAV patients' monocytes compared to HC, regardless of disease activity. AAV patients exhibited elevated soluble CD36 levels in serum and plasma and PR3-ANCA patients' monocytes demonstrated increased MNGC formation following PA stimulation compared to HC. PA stimulation of macrophages or endothelial cells resulted in heightened CD36 expression, cell activation, increased macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production, and c-Myc expression, with attenuation upon CD36 knockdown. CONCLUSION: CD36 participates in macrophage and endothelial cell activation and MNGC formation, features of AAV pathogenesis. AAV treatment may involve targeting CD36 or MIF.

The association between tacrolimus exposure and tremor, headache and insomnia in adult kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Tremor, headache and insomnia have been linked to the immunosuppressant, tacrolimus. The aim of this systematic review was to determine if there is a correlation between tacrolimus exposure and new-onset tremor, headache and insomnia experienced by adult kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases were searched up to 11 April 2023 for published studies which reported on tacrolimus exposure in adult kidney transplant recipients, alongside information on treatment-emergent neurologic manifestations, including tremor, headache and insomnia. Review articles, case studies, conference abstracts and articles not published in English in peer-reviewed journals were excluded. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scales were used to assess risk of bias. Extracted data was analysed via a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Eighteen studies involving 4030 patients in total were included in the final analysis. These comprised five randomised control trials and thirteen observational studies. Studies failed to find significant association between tacrolimus trough concentrations in whole blood and the incidence of neurologic side effects such as tremor, headache and insomnia; however, in one study the incidence of toxicity requiring a dose reduction increased with increasing, supratherapeutic targeted levels. Females, especially Black females, and older age were positively associated with the prevalence of neurologic adverse effects. Results were conflicting regarding whether extended-release formulations were associated with fewer neurologic complications than immediate-release formulations. CONCLUSION: The varied study designs and criteria for reporting tremor, headache and insomnia impacted on the quality of the data for exploring the relationship between tacrolimus exposure and the onset of neurologic manifestations experienced after kidney transplantation. Studies that examine defined neurologic complications as the primary outcome, and that consider novel markers of tacrolimus exposure while assessing the potential contribution of multiple covariate factors, are required.

Involvement of endoplasmic reticulum and histone proteins in immunomodulation by TLR4-interacting SPA4 peptide against Escherichia coli.

Pulmonary host defense is critical for the control of lung infection and inflammation. An increased expression and activity of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) induce phagocytic uptake/clearance and inflammation against Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we addressed the mechanistic aspect of the immunomodulatory activity of the TLR4-interacting SPA4 peptide (amino acid sequence GDFRYSDGTPVNYTNWYRGE) against Escherichia coli. Binding of the SPA4 peptide to bacteria and direct anti-bacterial effects were investigated using flow cytometric, microscopic, and bacteriological methods. The bacterial uptake and inflammatory cytokine response were studied in dendritic cells expressing endogenous basal level of TLR4 or overexpressing TLR4. The subcellular distribution and co-localization of TLR4 and bacteria were investigated by immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, we studied the cellular expression and co-localization of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) molecules (calnexin and ER membrane protein complex subunit 1; EMC1) with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) in cells infected with E. coli and treated with the SPA4 peptide. Simultaneously, the expression of histone H2A protein was quantitated by immunoblotting. Our results demonstrate no binding or direct killing of the bacteria by SPA4 peptide. Instead, it induces the uptake and localization of E. coli in the phagolysosomes for lysis and simultaneously suppresses the secreted levels of TNF-α. Overexpression of TLR4 further augments the pro-phagocytic and anti-inflammatory activity of SPA4 peptide. A time-dependent change in subcellular distribution of TLR4 and an increased co-localization of TLR4 with E. coli in SPA4 peptide-treated cells suggest an enhanced recognition and internalization of bacteria in conjugation with TLR4. Furthermore, an increased co-localization of calnexin and EMC1 with LAMP1 indicates the involvement of ER in pro-phagocytic activity of SPA4 peptide. Simultaneous reduction in secreted amounts of TNF-α coincides with suppressed histone H2A protein expression in the SPA4 peptide-treated cells. These results provide initial insights into the plausible role of ER and histones in the TLR4-immunomodulatory activity of SPA4 peptide against Gram-negative bacteria.

Contamination of the marine environment by Antarctic research stations: Monitoring marine pollution at Casey station from 1997 to 2015.

The contamination of the marine environment surrounding coastal Antarctic research stations remains insufficiently understood in terms of its extent, persistence, and characteristics. We investigated the presence of contaminants in marine sediments near Casey Station, located in the Windmill Islands of East Antarctica, during the period spanning from 1997 to 2015. Metals, hydrocarbons, PBDEs, PCBs, and nutrients were measured in sediments at anthropogenically disturbed sites, including the wastewater outfall, the wharf area, two former waste disposal sites, and various control locations. Sampling was carried out at three spatial scales: Locations, which were generally kilometres apart and formed the primary scale for comparison; Sites, which were 100 meters apart within each location; and Plots, which were 10 meters apart within each site. Consistently higher concentrations of most contaminants, and in some cases nutrients, were observed at disturbed locations. Some locations also exhibited an increase in contaminant concentrations over time. The spatial distribution of sediment properties (such as grain size and organic matter) and contaminants displayed intricate patterns of variation. Variation in grain size depended on the size category, with fine grains (e.g., <63 µm) showing the greatest variation at the Location scale, while coarse grains exhibited minimal variation at this scale. Contaminant levels demonstrated significant differences between Locations, accounting for approximately 55% of the overall variation for metals, while the variation within the 10-meter scale generally exceeded that within the 100-meter scale. Residual variation among replicate samples was also very high, demonstrating the need for adequate replication in studies of sediments and contaminants around stations. Some contaminants exceeded international guidelines for sediment quality, including metals, hydrocarbons, and PCBs. We conclude that Antarctic research stations such as Casey are likely to pose a moderate level of long-term ecological risk to local marine ecosystems through marine pollution. However, contamination is expected to be confined to areas in close proximity to the stations, although its extent and concentration are anticipated to increase with time. Raising awareness of the contamination risks associated with Antarctic stations and implementing monitoring programs for marine environments adjacent to these stations can contribute to informed decision-making and the improvement of environmental management practices in Antarctica.

Perceived facilitators and barriers to the uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among adolescents of Arabic-speaking mothers in NSW, Australia: A qualitative study.

Background: Australia has a large immigrant population but there is little data regarding whether human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in adolescents varies according to parents' cultural or ethnic background. This work aims to identify facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccination of adolescents as perceived by Arabic-speaking mothers in Western Sydney, South Western Sydney and Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Methods: A purposive sampling approach was applied to recruit mothers of adolescents from Arabic speaking backgrounds who had at least one child eligible for the HPV school-based vaccination program. Face-to-face semi-structured well as online interviews were conducted in Arabic between April 2021 and July 2021. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English and examined using thematic analysis. Results: Sixteen mothers of adolescents from Arabic backgrounds described facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccination. A) Facilitators of HPV vaccination included: knowledge of HPV disease, trust in the school vaccination program, opportunistic recommendations from healthcare workers, information from friends. B) Barriers to accessing HPV vaccination included communication gaps: breakdown in school-parent information flow, lack of access to the Arabic language version of the information sheet, mother - GP communication barriers, mother-child communication gap; and health system gaps: missed opportunities for vaccination. C) Mothers' suggestions to improve HPV vaccination acceptance: to involve religious and cultural leadership, encourage engagement with GPs, and provide school-based education for parents and students. Conclusion: Parents could benefit from assistance with HPV vaccination decision making. Interventions via schools, health professionals and religious and cultural organisations could play important roles in HPV vaccination acceptance for Arabic speaking immigrant families and in introducing their adolescent children to this vaccine.

Testing persuasive messages about booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines on intention to vaccinate in Australian adults: A randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Achieving high COVID-19 vaccine booster coverage is an ongoing global challenge. Health authorities need evidence about effective communication interventions to improve acceptance and uptake. This study aimed to test effects of persuasive messages about COVID-19 vaccine booster doses on intention to vaccinate amongst eligible adults in Australia. METHODS: In this online randomised controlled trial, adult participants received one of four intervention messages or a control message. The control message provided information about booster dose eligibility. Intervention messages added to the control message, each using a different persuasive strategy, including: emphasising personal health benefits of booster doses, community health benefits, non-health benefits, and personal agency in choosing vaccination. After the intervention, participants answered items about COVID-19 booster vaccine intention and beliefs. Intervention groups were compared to the control using tests of two proportions; differences of ≥5 percentage points were deemed clinically significant. A sub-group analysis was conducted among hesitant participants. RESULTS: Of the 487 consenting and randomised participants, 442 (90.8%) completed the experiment and were included in the analysis. Participants viewing messages emphasising non-health benefits had the highest intention compared to those who viewed the control message (percentage point diff: 9.0, 95% CI -0.8, 18.8, p = 0.071). Intention was even higher among hesitant individuals in this intervention group compared to the control group (percentage point diff: 15.6, 95% CI -6.0, 37.3, p = 0.150). Conversely, intention was lower among hesitant individuals who viewed messages emphasising personal agency compared to the control group (percentage point diff: -10.8, 95% CI -33.0, 11.4, p = 0.330), although evidence in support of these findings is weak. CONCLUSION: Health authorities should highlight non-health benefits to encourage COVID-19 vaccine booster uptake but use messages emphasising personal agency with caution. These findings can inform communication message development and strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccine booster uptake. Clinical trial registration: Registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622001404718); trial webpage: https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12622001404718.aspx.

Influenza and pertussis vaccine coverage in pregnancy in Australia, 2016-2021.

Vaccination in pregnancy is the best strategy to reduce complications from influenza or pertussis infection in infants who are too young to be protected directly from vaccination. Pregnant women are also at risk of influenza complications preventable through antenatal vaccination. Both vaccines are funded under the National Immunisation Program for pregnant women in Australia, but coverage is not routinely reported nationally. We reviewed all reported Australian maternal influenza and pertussis vaccine coverage data for the period 2016-2021, to identify gaps and information needs. Maternal influenza vaccine coverage was suboptimal at < 58% for 2016-2018, with higher coverage of 62-75% reported in two states (Victoria and Western Australia) for 2019-2021. Maternal pertussis vaccine coverage from 2016 was generally higher than for influenza at > 70%, with the highest jurisdictional coverage of 89% reported in Western Australia in 2020. Vaccination rates were often suboptimal among First Nations pregnant women and up to 20% lower than among non-First Nations Australian women; while data were limited, coverage was low among culturally and linguistically diverse women and among women of lower socio-economic status. Jurisdictional perinatal data collections were the best source of information on antenatal vaccine coverage but were only available for a minority of the population; a nationally consistent systematic approach is lacking. Timely and comprehensive data are needed to provide feedback to improve maternal vaccination coverage, particularly among groups with higher risk and/or low uptake, and as new vaccines are recommended, including COVID-19 vaccination.

A qualitative study on COVID-19 pandemic impacts on parental attitudes and intentions for routine adolescent vaccinations: The role of trust.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to declines in routine childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage globally. While the declines in Australia have been less, they are a concern, given steady increases in coverage prior to the pandemic. Given limited evidence on how the experiences of parents during the pandemic affected their attitudes about and intentions towards adolescent vaccinations, with this study we aimed to explore these. METHODS: This was a qualitative study. We invited parents of adolescents eligible for school-based vaccinations in 2021 from metropolitan, regional and rural areas of New South Wales and Victoria (the most affected States) and South Australia (less affected) to half hour-long online semi-structured interviews. We analysed data thematically and applied a conceptual model of trust in vaccination. RESULTS: In July 2022 we interviewed 15 accepting, 4 hesitant and two parents who refused adolescent vaccinations. We identified three themes: 1. Pandemic impacting on professional and personal lives and routine immunisations; 2. Pandemic strengthening preexisting vaccine hesitancy, with perceived lack of clarity in governmental information about vaccination and stigma around non-vaccinating as contributing factors; 3. Pandemic raising awareness of the benefits of COVID-19 and routine vaccinations, with communication campaigns and one's trusted doctor's vaccination recommendations as contributing factors. CONCLUSIONS: For some parents, experiences of poor system readiness and growing distrust towards health and vaccination systems strengthened their pre-existing vaccine hesitancy. We offer recommendations on how trust in the health system and immunisation can be optimised post-pandemic to increase uptake of routine vaccines. These include improving access to vaccination services and clear, timely information about vaccines; supporting immunisation providers in their immunisation consultations; working alongside communities, and building capacity of vaccine champions.

High Sensitivity of the Antarctic Rotifer Adineta editae to Metals and Ecological Relevance in Contaminated Site Risk Assessments.

Anthropogenic activities in Antarctica have led to contamination of terrestrial sites, and soils in ice-free areas have elevated concentrations of metals, particularly around current and historic research stations. Effective management of Antarctic contaminated sites depends on the assessment of risks to a representative range of native terrestrial species. Bdelloid rotifers are an abundant and biodiverse component of Antarctic limnoterrestrial communities and play a key role in nutrient cycling in Antarctic ecosystems. The present study investigates the toxicity of five metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc) to the endemic bdelloid rotifer Adineta editae, both singly and in metal mixtures. Based on the concentrations tested, zinc was the most toxic metal to survival with a 7-day median lethal concentration (LC50) of 344 µg Zn/L, followed by cadmium with a 7-day LC50 of 1542 µg Cd/L. Rotifers showed high sensitivity using cryptobiosis (chemobiosis) as a sublethal behavioral endpoint. Chemobiosis was triggered in A. editae at low metal concentrations (e.g., 6 µg/L Pb) and is likely a protective mechanism and survival strategy to minimize exposure to stressful conditions. Lead and copper were most toxic to rotifer behavior, with 4-day median effect concentrations (EC50s) of 18 and 27 µg/L, respectively, followed by zinc and cadmium (4-day EC50 values of 52 and 245 µg/L, respectively). The response of rotifers to the metal mixtures was antagonistic, with less toxicity observed than was predicted by the model developed from the single-metal exposure data. The present study provides evidence that this bdelloid rotifer represents a relatively sensitive microinvertebrate species to metals and is recommended for use in contaminant risk assessments in Antarctica. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1409-1419. © 2023 SETAC.

Anthropogenic petroleum signatures and biodegradation in subantarctic Macquarie Island soils.

Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) diesel is the main fuel used on Macquarie Island and has been identified as the primary contaminant in several past spill events. This study evaluates the environmental impact of petroleum spills at high latitudes, in the soils of subantarctic Macquarie Island. Soil samples were collected from seven locations, including the "fuel farm" and main powerhouse that have been contaminated by petroleum in the past, and five reference locations, away from station infrastructure and from any obvious signs of contamination. Soils were solvent extracted and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results show that both contaminated and uncontaminated sites contained a suite of different chain-length hydrocarbons. The more contaminated samples from the fuel farm and main powerhouse contained higher concentrations and a greater range of hydrocarbons that typically indicate numerous spills of varying ages. The hydrocarbon signature of samples collected near the fuel farm and at some of the main powerhouse sites was typical of SAB diesel. However, the hydrocarbon signature at other main powerhouse sites suggest contamination with a heavier fuel with different characteristics, including lower pristane/phytane ratios. Traces of C21-C35 cyclic biomarkers in the spill sites may be derived from additional heavier fuels, and include a signature characteristic of crude oil derived from marine carbonate source rocks. Reference samples had lower concentrations of hydrocarbons, and these were dominated by high molecular weight n-alkanes with an odd-carbon-number predominance, typical of higher-plant derived lipids. Some reference samples also contained geochemical signatures that suggest that they too were contaminated by fuel oil. Variable levels of biodegradation of fuels in soils are consistent with a heterogenous site and a relatively slow rate of biodegradation. The occurrence of fresh spilled fuel overprinting biodegraded fuel from earlier spills is compelling evidence of multiple spills and complex mixing in the environment.

Gender dynamics on Twitter during the 2020 U.S. Democratic presidential primary.

The Twitter social network for each of the top five U.S. Democratic presidential candidates in 2020 was analyzed to determine if there were any differences in the treatment of the candidates. This data set was collected from discussions of the presidential primary between December 2019 through April 2020. It was then separated into five sets,  one for each candidate. We found that the most discussed candidates, President Biden and Senator Sanders, received by far the most engagement from verified users and news agencies even before the Iowa caucuses, which was ultimately won by Mayor Buttigieg. The most popular candidates were also generally targeted more frequently by bots, trolls, and other aggressive users. However, the abusive language targeting the top two female candidates, Senators Warren and Klobuchar, included slightly more gendered and sexist language compared with the other candidates. Additionally, sexist slurs that ordinarily describe women were used more frequently than male slurs in all candidate data sets. Our results indicate that there may still be an undercurrent of sexist stereotypes permeating the social media conversation surrounding female U.S. presidential candidates.

Effect of persuasive messaging about COVID-19 vaccines for 5- to 11-year-old children on parent intention to vaccinate.

AIM: Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11 years old in Australia has plateaued. Persuasive messaging is an efficient and adaptable potential intervention to promote vaccine uptake, but evidence for its effectiveness is varied and dependent on context and cultural values. This study aimed to test persuasive messages to promote COVID-19 vaccines for children in Australia. METHODS: A parallel, online, randomised control experiment was conducted between 14 and 21 January 2022. Participants were Australian parents of a child aged 5-11 years who had not vaccinated their child with a COVID-19 vaccine. After providing demographic details and level of vaccine hesitancy, parents viewed either the control message or one of four intervention texts emphasising (i) personal health benefits; (ii) community health benefits; (iii) non-health benefits; or (iv) personal agency. The primary outcome was parents' intention to vaccinate their child. RESULTS: The analysis included 463 participants, of whom 58.7% (272/463) were hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines for children. Intention to vaccinate was higher in the community health (7.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.3% to 21.0%) and non-health (6.9%, 95% CI -6.4% to 20.3%) groups, and lower in the personal agency group (-3.9, 95% CI -17.7 to 9.9) compared to control, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. The effects of the messages among hesitant parents were similar to the overall study population. CONCLUSION: Short, text-based messages alone are unlikely to influence parental intention to vaccinate their child with the COVID-19 vaccine. Multiple strategies tailored for the target audience should also be utilised.