Genomic wide association study and selective sweep analysis identify genes associated with improved yield under drought in Turkish winter wheat germplasm.

A panel comprising of 84 Turkish winter wheat landraces (LR) and 73 modern varieties (MV) was analyzed with genome wide association study (GWAS) to identify genes/genomic regions associated with increased yield under favorable and drought conditions. In addition, selective sweep analysis was conducted to detect signatures of selection in the winter wheat genome driving the differentiation between LR and MV, to gather an understanding of genomic regions linked to adaptation and yield improvement. The panel was genotyped with 25 K wheat SNP array and phenotyped for agronomic traits for two growing seasons (2018 and 2019) in Konya, Turkey. Year 2018 was treated as drought environment due to very low precipitation prior to heading whereas year 2019 was considered as a favorable season. GWAS conducted with SNPs and haplotype blocks using mixed linear model identified 18 genomic regions in the vicinities of known genes i.e., TaERF3-3A, TaERF3-3B, DEP1-5A, FRIZZY PANICLE-2D, TaSnRK23-1A, TaAGL6-A, TaARF12-2A, TaARF12-2B, WAPO1, TaSPL16-7D, TaTGW6-A1, KAT-2B, TaOGT1, TaSPL21-6B, TaSBEIb, trs1/WFZP-A, TaCwi-A1-2A and TaPIN1-7A associated with grain yield (GY) and yield related traits. Haplotype-based GWAS identified five haplotype blocks (H1A-42, H2A-71, H4A-48, H7B-123 and H7B-124), with the favorable haplotypes showing a yield increase of > 700 kg/ha in the drought season. SNP-based GWAS, detected only one larger effect genomic region on chromosome 7B, in common with haplotype-based GWAS. On an average, the percentage variation (PV) explained by haplotypes was 8.0% higher than PV explained by SNPs for all the investigated traits. Selective sweep analysis detected 39 signatures of selection between LR and MV of which 15 were within proximity of known functional genes controlling flowering (PRR-A1, PPR-D1, TaHd1-6B), GY and GY components (TaSus2-2B, TaGS2-B1, AG1-1A/WAG1-1A, DUO-A1, DUO-B1, AG2-3A/WAG2-3A, TaLAX1, TaSnRK210-4A, FBP, TaLAX1, TaPIL1 and AP3-1-7A/WPA3-7A) and 10 regions underlying various transcription factors and regulatory genes. The study outcomes contribute to utilization of LR in breeding winter wheat.

Gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and foxes in the Zanjan province of Iran: With an emphasis on Echinococcus species.

Canids harbor many zoonotic parasites and play an important role in the spread of parasites in the human environment. Estimation of parasitic infection among canids as definitive hosts may help competent authorities design efficient control programs. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and foxes with an emphasis on Echinococcus spp. A total of 500 fecal samples of dogs and 30 fecal samples of foxes were studied in the summer, autumn, and winter of 2021 in the Zanjan province using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, followed by multiplex PCR. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection was estimated to be 19.05%. The prevalence was 24.8%, 10.2%, and 26.7% in stray, shelter dogs and foxes, respectively. No parasites were found among pet and guard dog samples. PCR results on Taenidae eggs showed that 2.4% of samples were positive for Echinococcus granulosus and none contained E. multilocularis. Noteworthy is that E. granulosus was identified only in stray dog samples. The higher prevalence of E. granulosus infection in stray dogs in this province emphasizes the importance of monitoring the food sources consumed by these animals.

Resistance to natural tick infestation varies with age and coat and hair traits in a tropically adapted beef cattle breed.

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus causes considerable livestock production losses. Knowledge of the traits that influence tick resistance contributes to the development of breeding strategies designed to improve herd productivity. Within this context, this study evaluated the resistance of Caracu, a tropically adapted cattle breed, to R. microplus. Tick count, hair length, coat thickness, and coat color were evaluated in 202 naturally tick-infested females (cows and heifers) over a period of 18 months. Blood samples were collected from all animals during the winter season for hematological analysis. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, generalized linear models, and principal component analysis. Correlation coefficients of tick count with coat color, coat thickness, and hair length were estimated within each season. Hematological parameters were only included in the winter season analysis and were analyzed by the restricted maximum likelihood method using log-transformed data. No differences in blood parameters were observed between animals with and without ticks. However, tick count was negatively correlated with erythrocytes (-0.29) and hematocrit (-0.24) and positively correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (0.21) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (0.25). These findings suggest that higher tick counts lead to a decrease in erythrocytes but also to an increase in the amount of hemoglobin per erythrocyte, which could reduce the damage caused by low erythrocyte levels due to tick hematophagy, delaying or preventing anemia. Although tick infestation on pasture was demonstrated by the infestation of all staff members during herd management, none of the animals exhibited high tick counts, providing evidence of resistance of Caracu animals to R. microplus. Tick infestation was influenced by age class (cows > heifers), season (spring and summer > fall and winter), coat thickness (>1.5 mm > <1.5 mm), and hair length (>6 mm > <6 mm). Three components were extracted by principal component analysis, which accounted for 69.46% of data variance. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of efficient strategies aimed at reducing economic losses due to tick infestation and could be applied in animal breeding to select for tick resistance traits, reducing chemical control strategies and consequently improving sustainable livestock production.

Extended ozone depletion and reduced snow and ice cover-Consequences for Antarctic biota.

Stratospheric ozone, which has been depleted in recent decades by the release of anthropogenic gases, is critical for shielding the biosphere against ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. Although the ozone layer is expected to recover before the end of the 21st century, a hole over Antarctica continues to appear each year. Ozone depletion usually peaks between September and October, when fortunately, most Antarctic terrestrial vegetation and soil biota is frozen, dormant and protected under snow cover. Similarly, much marine life is protected by sea ice cover. The ozone hole used to close before the onset of Antarctic summer, meaning that most biota were not exposed to severe springtime UV-B fluxes. However, in recent years, ozone depletion has persisted into December, which marks the beginning of austral summer. Early summertime ozone depletion is concerning: high incident UV-B radiation coincident with snowmelt and emergence of vegetation will mean biota is more exposed. The start of summer is also peak breeding season for many animals, thus extreme UV-B exposure (UV index up to 14) may come at a vulnerable time in their life cycle. Climate change, including changing wind patterns and strength, and particularly declining sea ice, are likely to compound UV-B exposure of Antarctic organisms, through earlier ice and snowmelt, heatwaves and droughts. Antarctic field research conducted decades ago tended to study UV impacts in isolation and more research that considers multiple climate impacts, and the true magnitude and timing of current UV increases is needed.

Diversity and Distribution of Avifauna in the Northeast of Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia.

Exploring avian species diversity and distribution patterns is vigorous for conservation efforts in biodiversity-rich countries such as Ethiopia. Compared to other species, birds are relatively well-known and easily observed, making them great markers of productivity or biodiversity. Although bird species are found all across the world, their survival and range have been negatively impacted by habitat loss, fragmentation, and destruction. Thus, the goal of this study is to provide baseline data on avifaunal diversity in the Northeast of Addis Ababa, including species richness, distribution, and relative abundance in various habitats conducted from January 2023 to September 2023 using a stratified sampling design into three habitat types: settlement, farmland, and abattoir. A fixed-width line transect sampling method was used at the farmland and settlement, and a point transect was employed at the abattoir site to collect the bird data. The data were compared using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests in both seasons and habitat types. A total of 42 bird species belonging to twenty-three families, and nine orders were recorded during the study period. Of these, blue-winged goose and wattled ibis are endemic to Ethiopia. Hooded vultures and White-backed vultures are critically endangered species. The mean abundance of bird species significantly varied in the three habitat types (χ2 = 13.6, df = 2, p=0.001). The abundance of bird species was nonsignificant difference between wet and dry seasons (U = -0.874, p=0.381). The highest diversity (H' = 2.74) was recorded at settlement, and the lowest diversity index (H' = 1.09) was recorded at the abattoir in the dry season. In the wet season, the highest diversity (H' = 2.66) was recorded in the farmland, and the lowest (H' = 1.08) was recorded at the abattoir. The highest evenness (J = 0.94 and J = 0.93) was recorded on the farmland in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. In the study area, urbanization is extremely impacting the environment and altering ecosystem services upon which human civilization depends. Most of the avian species observed in the study area are capable and tolerant of human-induced habitats in the city. Therefore, city planners must consider conserving urban bird species' habitats and feeding sites.

Seasonal extreme temperatures and short-term fine particulate matter increases pediatric respiratory healthcare encounters in a sparsely populated region of the intermountain western United States.

BACKGROUND: Western Montana, USA, experiences complex air pollution patterns with predominant exposure sources from summer wildfire smoke and winter wood smoke. In addition, climate change related temperatures events are becoming more extreme and expected to contribute to increases in hospital admissions for a range of health outcomes. Evaluating while accounting for these exposures (air pollution and temperature) that often occur simultaneously and may act synergistically on health is becoming more important. METHODS: We explored short-term exposure to air pollution on children's respiratory health outcomes and how extreme temperature or seasonal period modify the risk of air pollution-associated healthcare events. The main outcome measure included individual-based address located respiratory-related healthcare visits for three categories: asthma, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) across western Montana for ages 0-17 from 2017-2020. We used a time-stratified, case-crossover analysis with distributed lag models to identify sensitive exposure windows of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) lagged from 0 (same-day) to 14 prior-days modified by temperature or season. RESULTS: For asthma, increases of 1 µg/m3 in PM2.5 exposure 7-13 days prior a healthcare visit date was associated with increased odds that were magnified during median to colder temperatures and winter periods. For LRTIs, 1 µg/m3 increases during 12 days of cumulative PM2.5 with peak exposure periods between 6-12 days before healthcare visit date was associated with elevated LRTI events, also heightened in median to colder temperatures but no seasonal effect was observed. For URTIs, 1 unit increases during 13 days of cumulative PM2.5 with peak exposure periods between 4-10 days prior event date was associated with greater risk for URTIs visits that were intensified during median to hotter temperatures and spring to summer periods. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed, short-term exposure increases of PM2.5 were associated with elevated odds of all three pediatric respiratory healthcare visit categories in a sparsely population area of the inter-Rocky Mountains, USA. PM2.5 in colder temperatures tended to increase instances of asthma and LRTIs, while PM2.5 during hotter periods increased URTIs.

RSV Disease Burden in Primary Care in Italy: A Multi-Region Pediatric Study, Winter Season 2022-2023.

INTRODUCTION: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age, but its socioeconomic impact and burden in primary care settings is still little studied. METHODS: During the 2022/2023 winter season, 55 pediatricians from five Italian regions participated in our community-based study. They collected a nasal swab for RSV molecular test from 650 patients under the age of 5 with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and performed a baseline questionnaire. The clinical and socioeconomic burden of RSV disease in primary care was evaluated by two follow-up questionnaires completed by the parents of positive children on Days 14 and 30. RESULTS: RSV laboratory-confirmed cases were 37.8% of the total recruited ARI cases, with RSV subtype B accounting for the majority (65.4%) of RSV-positive swabs. RSV-positive children were younger than RSV-negative ones (median 12.5 vs. 16.5 months). The mean duration of symptoms for all children infected by RSV was 11.47 ± 6.27 days. We did not observe substantial differences in clinical severity between the two RSV subtypes, but RSV-A positive patients required more additional pediatric examinations than RSV-B cases. The socioeconomic impact of RSV infection was considerable, causing 53% of children to be absent from school, 46% of parents to lose working days, and 25% of families to incur extra costs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings describe a baseline of the RSV disease burden in primary care in Italy before the introduction of upcoming immunization strategies.

Comparative Analysis of Clinical Outcomes Using Propensity Score Matching: Coronavirus Disease 2019 vs. Seasonal Influenza in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The advent of the omicron variant and the formulation of diverse therapeutic strategies marked a new epoch in the realm of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Studies have compared the clinical outcomes between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, but such studies were conducted during the early stages of the pandemic when effective treatment strategies had not yet been developed, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, an updated evaluation of the comparative analysis of clinical outcomes between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza is requisite. METHODS: This study used data from the severe acute respiratory infection surveillance system of South Korea. We extracted data for influenza patients who were infected between 2018 and 2019 and COVID-19 patients who were infected in 2021 (pre-omicron period) and 2022 (omicron period). Comparisons of outcomes were conducted among the pre-omicron, omicron, and influenza cohorts utilizing propensity score matching. The adjusted covariates in the propensity score matching included age, sex, smoking, and comorbidities. RESULTS: The study incorporated 1,227 patients in the pre-omicron cohort, 1,948 patients in the omicron cohort, and 920 patients in the influenza cohort. Following propensity score matching, 491 patients were included in each respective group. Clinical presentations exhibited similarities between the pre-omicron and omicron cohorts; however, COVID-19 patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of dyspnea and pulmonary infiltrates compared to their influenza counterparts. Both COVID-19 groups exhibited higher in-hospital mortality and longer hospital length of stay than the influenza group. The omicron group showed no significant improvement in clinical outcomes compared to the pre-omicron group. CONCLUSION: The omicron group did not demonstrate better clinical outcomes than the pre-omicron group, and exhibited significant disease severity compared to the influenza group. Considering the likely persistence of COVID-19 infections, it is imperative to sustain comprehensive studies and ongoing policy support for the virus to enhance the prognosis for individuals affected by COVID-19.

Evaluating Pilot Implementation of 'PenCS Flu Topbar' App in Medical Practices to Improve National Immunisation Program-Funded Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Central Queensland, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app was deployed in Central Queensland (CQ), Australia, medical practices through a pilot programme in March 2021. METHODS: We evaluated the app's user experience and examined whether the introduction of 'PenCS Flu Topbar' in medical practices could improve the coverage of NIP-funded influenza vaccinations. We conducted a mixed-method study including a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with key end-users and a quantitative analysis of influenza vaccine administrative data. RESULTS: 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app users reported positive experiences identifying patients eligible for NIP-funded seasonal influenza vaccination. A total of 3606 NIP-funded influenza vaccinations was administered in the eight intervention practices, 14% higher than the eight control practices. NIP-funded vaccination coverage within practices was significantly higher in the intervention practices (31.2%) than in the control practices (27.3%) (absolute difference: 3.9%; 95% CI: 2.9%-5.0%; p < 0.001). The coverage was substantially higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged more than 6 months, pregnant women and children aged 6 months to less than 5 years for the practices where the app was introduced when compared to control practices: incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.4 (95% CI: 1.8-3.2), IRR 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8-4.2) and IRR 2.3 (1.8-2.9) times higher, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our evaluation indicated that the 'PenCS Flu Topbar' app is useful for identifying the patients eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccination and is likely to increase NIP-funded influenza vaccine coverage in the eligible populations. Future impact evaluation including a greater number of practices and a wider geographical area is essential.

Heat-Related Emergency Department Visits - United States, May-September 2023.

Unprecedented heat waves can affect all persons, but some are more sensitive to the effects of heat, including children and adults with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and outdoor workers. Many regions of the United States experienced record-breaking high temperatures in 2023, with populations exposed to extremely high temperatures for prolonged periods. CDC examined emergency department (ED) visits associated with heat-related illness (HRI) from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program and compared daily HRI ED visit rates during the warm-season months (May-September) of 2023 with those during 2018-2022. In the 2023 warm-season months, daily HRI ED visit rates peaked in several regions and remained elevated for a prolonged duration. More males than females sought care in EDs for HRI, especially males aged 18-64 years. CDC issued multiple public health alerts using the Epidemic Information Exchange system to bring attention to increases in ED utilization for HRI. Deaths and illnesses associated with heat exposure are a continuing public health concern as climate change results in longer, hotter, and more frequent episodes of extreme heat. Near real-time monitoring of weather conditions and adverse health outcomes can guide public health practitioners' timing of risk communication and implementation of prevention measures associated with extreme heat.

White-crested elaenias (Elaenia albiceps chilensis) breeding across Patagonia exhibit similar spatial and temporal movement patterns throughout the year.

For migratory birds, events happening during any period of their annual cycle can have strong carry-over effects on the subsequent periods. The strength of carry-over effects between non-breeding and breeding grounds can be shaped by the degree of migratory connectivity: whether or not individuals that breed together also migrate and/or spend the non-breeding season together. We assessed the annual cycle of the White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps chilensis), the longest-distance migrant flycatcher within South America, which breeds in Patagonia and spends the non-breeding season as far north as Amazonia. Using light-level geolocators, we tracked the annual movements of elaenias breeding on southern Patagonia and compared it with movements of elaenias breeding in northern Patagonia (1,365 km north) using Movebank Repository data. We found that elaenias breeding in southern Patagonia successively used two separate non-breeding regions while in their Brazilian non-breeding grounds, as already found for elaenias breeding in the northern Patagonia site. Elaenias breeding in both northern and southern Patagonia also showed high spread in their non-breeding grounds, high non-breeding overlap among individuals from both breeding sites, and similar migration phenology, all of which suggests weak migratory connectivity for this species. Elucidating the annual cycle of this species, with particular emphasis on females and juveniles, still requires further research across a wide expanse of South America. This information will be critical to understanding and possibly predicting this species' response to climate change and rapid land-use changes.

Responding to the Return of Influenza in the United States by Applying Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Surveillance, Analysis, and Modeling to Inform Understanding of Seasonal Influenza.

We reviewed the tools that have been developed to characterize and communicate seasonal influenza activity in the United States. Here we focus on systematic surveillance and applied analytics, including seasonal burden and disease severity estimation, short-term forecasting, and longer-term modeling efforts. For each set of activities, we describe the challenges and opportunities that have arisen because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, we highlight how collaboration and communication have been and will continue to be key components of reliable and actionable influenza monitoring, forecasting, and modeling activities.

Exploring stem cell frontiers: definitions, challenges, and perspectives for regenerative medicine.

Each year, the European Summer School on Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (SCSS) attracts early-career researchers and actively practicing clinicians who specialise in stem cell and regenerative biology. The 16th edition of this influential course took place from 12th to 19th September 2023 on the charming Greek island of Spetses. Focusing on important concepts and recent advances in stem cells, the distinguished faculty included experts spanning the spectrum from fundamental research to clinical trials to market-approved therapies. Alongside an academically intensive programme that bridges the various contexts of stem cell research, delegates were encouraged to critically address relevant questions in stem cell biology and medicine, including broader societal implications. Here, we present a comprehensive overview and key highlights from the SCSS 2023.

Seasonal Variation and Positional Differences in Anthropometry, Strength, and Power Characteristics in English Premiership Women's Rugby Union Players.

ABSTRACT: Yao, X, Austerberry, A, Bishop, C, Wilson, L, Chiang, C-Y, and Turner, A. Seasonal variation and positional differences in anthropometry, strength, and power characteristics in English premiership women's rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 38(5): 924-931, 2024-Women's rugby is a collision sport that relies heavily on body composition and physical characteristics of strength and power to achieve competitive success. Furthermore, the seasonal nature presents a variety of physical challenges that can cause fluctuations in a player's physical development. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the differences in anthropometry, strength, and power characteristics between forwards and backs in women's rugby union athletes in England and to identify changes throughout a season. Forty-seven players were recruited from the English premiership women's rugby during the 2020-2021 season. Players were split into forwards and backs and underwent body composition testing by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and strength and power tests (countermovement jump, drop jump [DJ], and isometric midthigh pull) on 3 separate occasions (preseason, midseason, postseason). Overall, forwards had significantly ( p < 0.01) higher body mass, fat mass, lean mass [LM], bone mineral content, and take off momentum, and backs had significantly higher ( p < 0.01, d > 0.5) jump height, reactive strength, and shorter DJ contact time. When observing seasonal changes, there were statistically significant differences ( p < 0.01) or moderate-to-large practical differences ( d > 0.5) in LM, reactive strength index modified, time to take-off, and DJ flight time [FT] among forwards when comparing 3 testing time frames. For backs, statistically significant differences ( p < 0.01) or moderate-to-large practical differences ( d > 0.5) were reported in LM and DJ FT throughout the season. In conclusion, the strength and power testing and characteristics shown in this study could support coaches and junior women's rugby athletes to have a basic understanding of English premiership physical standards.

A longitudinal study of queen health in honey bees reveals tissue specific response to seasonal changes and pathogen pressure.

The health of honey bee queens is crucial for colony success, particularly during stressful periods like overwintering. To accompany a previous longitudinal study of colony and worker health, we explored niche-specific gut microbiota, host gene expression, and pathogen prevalence in honey bee queens overwintering in a warm southern climate. We found differential gene expression and bacterial abundance with respect to various pathogens throughout the season. Biologically older queens had larger microbiotas, particularly enriched in Bombella and Bifidobacterium. Both Deformed Wing Virus A and B subtypes were highest in the fat body tissue in January, correlating with colony Varroa levels, and Deformed Wing Virus titers in workers. High viral titers in queens were associated with decreased vitellogenin expression, suggesting a potential trade-off between immune function and reproductive capacity. Additionally, we found a complex and dynamic relationship between these viral loads and immune gene expression, indicating a possible breakdown in the coordinated immune response as the season progressed. Our study also revealed a potential link between Nosema and Melissococcus plutonius infections in queens, demonstrating that seasonal opportunism is not confined to just workers. Overall, our findings highlight the intricate interplay between pathogens, metabolic state, and immune response in honey bee queens. Combined with worker and colony-level metrics from the same colonies, our findings illustrate the social aspect of queen health and resilience over the winter dearth.

Estimates of Seasonal Influenza Burden That Could Be Averted by Improved Influenza Vaccines in the Australian Population Aged Under 65 Years, 2015-2019.

BACKGROUND: The interpretation of relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of improved influenza vaccines is complex. Estimation of burden averted is useful to contextualise their potential impact across different seasons. For the population aged under 65 years in Australia, this study estimated the additional morbidity and mortality that could be averted using improved influenza vaccines. METHODS: We used observed, season-specific (2015-2019) influenza notification and influenza-coded hospitalisation frequencies and published modelled estimates of influenza-associated hospitalisations and deaths that occurred under the prevailing influenza vaccination coverage scenario. After back-calculating to the estimated burden in the population without vaccination, we applied published standard influenza vaccine effectiveness and coverage estimates to calculate the burden potentially averted by standard and improved influenza vaccines. A plausible range of rVE values were used, assuming 50% coverage. RESULTS: The percentage point difference in absolute vaccine effectiveness (VE) of an improved vaccine compared to a standard vaccine is directly proportional to its rVE and inversely proportional to the effectiveness of the standard vaccine. The incremental burden averted by an improved vaccine is a function of both its difference in absolute VE and the severity of the influenza season. Assuming an rVE of 15% with 50% coverage, the improved vaccine was estimated to additionally avert 1517 to 12,641 influenza notifications, 287 to 1311 influenza-coded hospitalisations and 9 to 33 modelled all-cause influenza deaths per year compared to the standard vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Improved vaccines can have substantial clinical and population impact, particularly when the effectiveness of standard vaccines is low, and burden is high.

Effect of spatiotemporal variables on abundance, biting activity and parity of Nyssorhynchus darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) in peri-Iquitos, Peru.

BACKGROUND: In malaria endemic regions of the Peruvian Amazon, rainfall together with river level and breeding site availability drive fluctuating vector mosquito abundance and human malaria cases, leading to temporal heterogeneity. The main variables influencing spatial transmission include location of communities, mosquito behaviour, land use/land cover, and human ecology/behaviour. The main objective was to evaluate seasonal and microgeographic biting behaviour of the malaria vector Nyssorhynchus (or Anopheles) darlingi in Amazonian Peru and to investigate effects of seasonality on malaria transmission. METHODS: We captured mosquitoes from 18:00 to 06:00 h using Human Landing Catch in two riverine (Lupuna, Santa Emilia) and two highway (El Triunfo, Nuevo Horizonte) communities indoors and outdoors from 8 houses per community, during the dry and rainy seasons from February 2016 to January 2017. We then estimated parity rate, daily survival and age of a portion of each collection of Ny. darlingi. All collected specimens of Ny. darlingi were tested for the presence of Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites using real-time PCR targeting the small subunit of the 18S rRNA. RESULTS: Abundance of Ny. darlingi varied across village, season, and biting behaviour (indoor vs outdoor), and was highly significant between rainy and dry seasons (p < 0.0001). Biting patterns differed, although not significantly, and persisted regardless of season, with peaks in highway communities at ~ 20:00 h in contrast to biting throughout the night (i.e., 18:00-06:00) in riverine communities. Of 3721 Ny. darlingi tested for Plasmodium, 23 (0.62%) were infected. We detected Plasmodium-infected Ny. darlingi in both community types and most (20/23) were captured outdoors during the rainy season; 17/23 before midnight. Seventeen Ny. darlingi were infected with P. vivax, and 6 with P. falciparum. No infected Ny. darlingi were captured during the dry season. Significantly higher rates of parity were detected in Ny. darlingi during the rainy season (average 64.69%) versus the dry season (average 36.91%) and by community, Lupuna, a riverine village, had the highest proportion of parous to nulliparous females during the rainy season. CONCLUSIONS: These data add a seasonal dimension to malaria transmission in peri-Iquitos, providing more evidence that, at least locally, the greatest risk of malaria transmission is outdoors during the rainy season mainly before midnight, irrespective of whether the community was located adjacent to the highway or along the river.

Construction of the "Full Path" of restorative effects on older adults' mental health in parks under seasonal differences: taking Changchun as an example.

With the aging and older adults' mental health problems in China, more attention has been paid to the restorative environment. As an important restorative environment in the city, the mental health restorative effect of park environment has been confirmed. However, further exploration is needed to determine whether winter parks have positive effects, their differences from non-winter parks, and the specific pathways of these effects. Therefore, this study constructed a "full path" for the restorative effects of older adults' mental health in parks under seasonal differences, including four components: perceived environment, affective feedback, behavioral feedback, and restorative effect, forming four pathways. Based on this, this study obtained 211 and 240 sample data in winter and non-winter parks, and verified the validity of various hypotheses and mediation paths using structural equation models. It found that: (1) overall restorative effects existed in different seasons; (2) in winter, perceived environmental assessment was not a direct antecedent of restorative effects, and affective feedback and Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) feedback were important mediating factors, and the chain mediated pathway existed; (3) in non-winter, both direct, indirect and chain mediated effects existed, and affective feedback and Low Physical Activity (LPA) feedback were important mediating factors. Based on this, this study divided parks into "affective inducing" and "behavioral promoting" types, and proposed corresponding planning priorities to positively intervene in planning and design practices.

Flexibility underlies differences in mitochondrial respiratory performance between migratory and non-migratory White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys).

Migration is one of the most energy-demanding behaviors observed in birds. Mitochondria are the primary source of energy used to support these long-distance movements, yet how mitochondria meet the energetic demands of migration is scarcely studied. We quantified changes in mitochondrial respiratory performance in the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), which has a migratory and non-migratory subspecies. We hypothesized that the long-distance migratory Gambel's subspecies (Z. l. gambelii) would show higher mitochondrial respiratory performance compared to the non-migratory Nuttall's subspecies (Z. l. nuttalli). We sampled Gambel's individuals during spring pre-migration, active fall migration, and a period with no migration or breeding (winter). We sampled Nuttall's individuals during periods coinciding with fall migration and the winter period of Gambel's annual cycle. Overall, Gambel's individuals had higher citrate synthase, a proxy for mitochondrial volume, than Nuttall's individuals. This was most pronounced prior to and during migration. We found that both OXPHOS capacity (state 3) and basal respiration (state 4) of mitochondria exhibit high seasonal flexibility within Gambel's individuals, with values highest during active migration. These values in Nuttall's individuals were most similar to Gambel's individuals in winter. Our observations indicate that seasonal changes in mitochondrial respiration play a vital role in migration energetics.