Persistent Effects of Landscape Context on Recruitment Dynamics During Secondary Succession of Tropical Forests.

Large-scale reforestation is promoted as an important strategy to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. A persistent challenge for efforts to restore ecosystems at scale is how to accelerate ecological processes, particularly natural regeneration. Yet, despite being recognized as an important barrier to the recovery of diverse plant communities in tropical agricultural landscapes, the impacts of dispersal limitation on natural regeneration in secondary forests-and especially how this changes as these forests grow older-are still poorly studied.

Conquering acceptability: A study of stakeholder inclusion practices in evaluation processes in francophone West African Countries.

Evaluation practices in the French-speaking countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) are poorly understood and infrequently documented. Our study is a descriptive analysis that elucidates how stakeholders are conceptualized and involved in evaluation processes in WAEMU. In these countries, evaluators are concerned about the weak stakeholder involvement in evaluation activity and call for greater stakeholder engagement, juxtaposed to the challenges of doing so.

Anti-HIV-1 Effect of the Fluoroquinolone Enoxacin and Modulation of Pro-Viral hsa-miR-132 Processing in CEM-SS Cells.

Background: Despite tremendous advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) against HIV-1 infections, no cure or vaccination is available. Therefore, discovering novel therapeutic strategies remains an urgent need. In that sense, miRNAs and miRNA therapeutics have moved intensively into the focus of recent HIV-1-related investigations.

FORCE platform overcomes barriers of oligonucleotide delivery to muscle and corrects myotonic dystrophy features in preclinical models.

Background: We developed the FORCE platform to overcome limitations of oligonucleotide delivery to muscle and enable their applicability to neuromuscular disorders. The platform consists of an antigen-binding fragment, highly specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), conjugated to an oligonucleotide via a cleavable valine-citrulline linker. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by expanded CUG triplets in the DMPK RNA, which sequester splicing proteins in the nucleus, lead to spliceopathy, and drive disease progression.

Reciprocal relationships between adolescent mental health difficulties and alcohol consumption.

The directionality of the relationship between adolescent alcohol consumption and mental health difficulties remains poorly understood. This study investigates the longitudinal relationship between alcohol use frequency, internalizing and externalizing symptoms from the ages of 11 to 17. We conducted a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model across three timepoints (ages: 11yrs, 14yrs, 17yrs; 50.

Thought-Feeling Accuracy in Person Perception and Metaperception: An Integrative Perspective.

People often want to know what their interaction partners are thinking. How accurate are they, what information do they use, what predicts how accurate they will be, and does accuracy matter? We organize our review of thought-feeling accuracy, defined as the accuracy of individuals' judgments about the content of another person's thoughts and feelings in live interaction, around these questions. At the same time, we argue that often people are especially interested in what others are thinking about them, such that research on the accuracy of individuals' metaperceptions regarding others' views of them is highly relevant to understanding thought-feeling accuracy more broadly construed.

Mechanistic determinants and dynamics of cA6 synthesis in type III CRISPR-Cas effector complexes.

Type III clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems (type III CRISPR-Cas systems) use guide RNAs to recognize RNA transcripts of foreign genetic elements, which triggers the generation of cyclic oligoadenylate (cOA) second messengers by the Cas10 subunit of the type III effector complex. In turn, cOAs bind and activate ancillary effector proteins to reinforce the host immune response. Type III systems utilize distinct cOAs, including cyclic tri- (cA3), tetra- (cA4) and hexa-adenylates (cA6).

Brain aging rejuvenation factors in adults with genetic and sporadic neurodegenerative disease.

The largest risk factor for dementia is age. Heterochronic blood exchange studies have uncovered age-related blood factors that demonstrate 'pro-aging' or 'pro-youthful' effects on the mouse brain. The clinical relevance and combined effects of these factors for humans is unclear.

Development and Beta Validation of an mHealth-Based Hearing Screener (SRESHT) for Young Children in Resource-Limited Countries: Pilot Validation Study.

Background: The prevalence of hearing loss in infants in India varies between 4 and 5 per 1000. Objective-based otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response have been used in high-income countries for establishing early hearing screening and intervention programs. Nevertheless, the use of objective screening tests in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as India is not feasible.

Taking a partnership approach to embed physical activity in local policy and practice: a Bradford District case study.

Background: Supportive policy is an important component of a whole-systems approach to increasing physical activity and reducing inequalities. There is a growing body of literature surrounding the design and effectiveness of national policy approaches to physical activity, but evidence related to local-level approaches is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine 'what works', and identify factors underpinning change, focused on work to embed physical activity in local policy and practice in Bradford, UK.

Heterogeneities in landed costs of traded grains and oilseeds contribute to unequal access to food.

Despite the growing accessibility of international grain and oilseed markets, high production costs and trade frictions are still prevalent, contributing to regional heterogeneities in the landed cost of grain imports. Here we quantify the landed cost for six grain commodities across 3,500 administrative regions, capturing regional cost differences to produce grain and transport it across international borders. We find large heterogeneities in the costs of imported grain, which are highest in Oceania, Central America and landlocked Africa.

Effects of implant status and breed type on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, sera metabolites, and immunohistochemical responses in finishing steers.

The number of beef × dairy animals entering feedlots has increased, but the response of beef × dairy cattle to growth-promoting implants has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of breed type and implant administration on live performance, carcass characteristics, sera metabolites, and immunohistochemical (IHC) outcomes. Forty-eight steers (average body weight [BW] = 417±22 kg) were sorted by breed into groups of predominantly Angus (B), black-hided beef × primarily Holstein (B×D), or Holstein (D), and half of the steers within each breed type were administered a steroidal implant.

Disentangling Sources of Momentum Fluctuations in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb Collisions with the ATLAS Detector.

High-energy nuclear collisions create a quark-gluon plasma, whose initial condition and subsequent expansion vary from event to event, impacting the distribution of the eventwise average transverse momentum [P([p_{T}])]. Disentangling the contributions from fluctuations in the nuclear overlap size (geometrical component) and other sources at a fixed size (intrinsic component) remains a challenge. This problem is addressed by measuring the mean, variance, and skewness of P([p_{T}]) in ^{208}Pb+^{208}Pb and ^{129}Xe+^{129}Xe collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.

JU:MP leads: sparking physical activity leadership and supporting positive youth development in a deprived community.

Introduction: Physical activity interventions in deprived communities should acknowledge the social, political, and cultural context in which they are delivered. Targeted young leaders programs can harness positive youth development principles and address these concerns by engaging underrepresented young people and developing them as physical activity leaders who can support local delivery efforts. Community-based Youth Leadership development programs are under-researched, and little is known about how to develop young people from deprived communities as physical activity leaders.

Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers and physical functioning in a diverse sample of adults.

Introduction: The relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) plasma biomarkers, and physical functioning (PF) across diverse races and ethnicities remains unclear. This study aims to explore this association in an ethno-racially diverse sample of cognitively unimpaired community-dwelling adults.

Methods: Data clinical examinations, neuropsychological tests, blood draws, and PF exams (Timed Up and Go [TUG] and Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) were analyzed.

Clinical profile and recovery pattern of dysphonia following inhalation injury: A 10-year review.

Introduction: Inhalation injury may be associated with increased risk of dysphonia and laryngotracheal pathology; however, presentation and recovery patterns are not well documented.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and recovery patterns of dysphonia and laryngeal pathology following inhalation injury.

Methods: A retrospective audit was conducted of all burn patients with diagnosed inhalation injury admitted to two Australian burn units over ten years.

Benchtop centrifugation: An effective method for reducing lipaemia associated interference in grossly lipaemic samples?

Background: Grossly lipaemic samples are a significant cause of analytical errors, potentially impacting patient care. The causes of lipaemia are varied and often unavoidable, while methods to reduce lipaemia through gold-standard ultracentrifugation are limited by availability, transportation and cost. Benchtop centrifugation has been proposed as an alternative method to reduce lipaemia.

The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean Version 5.0.

Knowledge about seafloor depth, or bathymetry, is crucial for various marine activities, including scientific research, offshore industry, safety of navigation, and ocean exploration. Mapping the central Arctic Ocean is challenging due to the presence of perennial sea ice, which limits data collection to icebreakers, submarines, and drifting ice stations. The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) was initiated in 1997 with the goal of updating the Arctic Ocean bathymetric portrayal.

Effects of Supranutritional Selenium Supplementation During Different Trimesters of Pregnancy on Humoral Immunity in Beef Cattle at Parturition.

Supranutritional Se supplementation may improve immune responses in beef cattle. Immunity is compromised in beef cattle during the periparturient period. This study aims to determine the best time during pregnancy to supplement beef cows with Se-yeast to optimize humoral immunity at parturition.

Stroke and liminality: narratives of reconfiguring identity after stroke and their implications for person-centred stroke care.

Background: The complex physical, cognitive, and psychological consequences of stroke can disrupt a survivor's sense of pre-stroke normality and identity. This can have a substantial impact on their individual and social lives. Individual reports about life after stroke have improved our understanding of this impact.

Revisiting sources of variability in gait analysis.

Background: Gait analyses in clinical populations must be considered differently, as variation in measurements may be related to the clinical condition and not just factors of interest. However, measurements taken from gait also have natural variability and this variability is further compounded when multiple factors may be of clinical interest.

Research Question: Do current methods properly assign and quantify the amount of variability in gait data?

Methods: Simulated data were utilized to identify subject and therapist effects using multiple gait trials; data were simulated with and without multiple sessions with therapists.

Surface-Functionalised Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: A Pathway to Multidrug-Resistant Pathogen Control in Medical Devices.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) offer promising antimicrobial properties against a range of pathogens, addressing the urgent issue of antibiotic resistance. This study details the synthesis of glutamic acid-coated CuONPs (GA-CuONPs) and their functionalisation on medical-grade silicone tubing, using an oxysilane bonding agent. The resulting coating shows significant antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, while remaining non-toxic to human cells and exhibiting stable adherence, without leaching.

Community starts at home: Toward understanding the dynamic relationship between home usability and community participation for people with mobility disabilities.

To foster meaningful participation within a community, people must have access to suitable and safe housing. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities currently reside in homes that fail to meet their functional, social, and psychological needs. Limited research has explored the interaction between housing and home usability on community participation for people with disabilities.