High-sensitivity linear-mode avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that operate beyond 1.65 μm and up to 2 μm require a narrow bandgap that also gives rise to high dark currents, especially when subject to the large electric fields necessary for avalanche multiplication. This has led to increasing interest in separate absorption, charge, and multiplication (SACM) detectors where the narrow bandgap absorber has a low electric field and the wider bandgap multiplication region provides the gain. A systematic study of Al0.7In0.3As0.31Sb0.69 grown lattice-matched on GaSb as the multiplication layer has been undertaken on p-i-n structures varying in width from 0.1 to 1.5 μm and the ionization coefficients and excess noise extracted over a wide electric field range (195 kV/cm-830 kV/cm). When integrated with a lattice-matched Al0.3In0.7As0.64Sb0.36 absorption layer, such an SACM APD is found to demonstrate a quantum efficiency of 64% and 10% for the wavelengths of 1.55 and 2 μm, respectively, at punch-through, without any antireflection coating. The device shows a maximum avalanche gain of 197 with an excess noise of 3.1 at a gain of 10. Such APDs can be potentially used in a receiver for many photon-starved applications, including gas sensing and LiDAR.

Purpose The study investigated the mediating effect of competitive strategy and adaptive capability in the relationship between digital transformation and performance of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The study sampled 362 SMEs selected through convenience sampling. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data, while the partial-least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed for the data analysis using the SmartPLS v.4 software. Findings Results show that digital transformation significantly influences performance of SMEs. Besides, the mediation analyses showed that both competitive strategies (low-cost and differentiation) as well as adaptive capability mediate the relationship between digital transformation and SMEs performance. Practical implications The results underscore the importance and need for SMEs to align their digital transformation initiatives with strategic positioning to drive competitive advantage and enhance performance, given that digital transformation alone may not be enough to drive performance. Originality/value The study is one of the first to provide evidence of the indirect effect of competitive strategies and adaptive capability in the relationship between digital transformation and performance in the context of SMEs, contributing to the broadening of knowledge in the field.

Introduction: Malaria remains a leading cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria, with Abia State exemplifying hyperendemic transmission. The 2024 introduction of the R21/Matrix-M and RTS,S/AS01 vaccines offers promise, but evidence on caregiver awareness and acceptance in the non-pilot South-East region to inform equitable rollout is scarce. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study from June to August 2025 among 618 caregivers of under-fives caregivers engaged with the routine immunization programme in Abia State. Quantitative cross-sectional surveys assessed awareness (knowledge of malaria vaccines) and acceptance (willingness on Likert scales), and inferential analysis was carried out using logistic regression. Qualitative in-depth interviews (n=28) and focus group discussions (n=6, 50 participants) explored perceptions using thematic analysis. Triangulation integrated findings. Results: Awareness was low (38.2%; 95% CI: 34.5-42.0) and highest among urban educated caregivers (52.3%). However, acceptance was high (88.7%), driven by child protection (67.4%) and provider trust (59.8%). Barriers included fears of side effects (51.4%) and misinformation (18.7%). Significantly, education (AOR=3.28) and urban residence (AOR=1.78) predicted awareness, and income (AOR=2.05) and awareness status (AOR=6.92) influenced acceptance. Qualitative themes corroborated quantitative findings: "fragmented information" explained rural gaps, and "maternal instinct" amplified willingness to accept. Conclusion: Based on our findings, caregivers demonstrated strong acceptance of malaria vaccines despite critically low awareness, a disparity fuelled by information gaps and sociodemographic inequities such as low education and rural residence that threaten vaccine rollout and malaria elimination goals. Based on our findings, this pioneering mixed-methods study recommends that specific channels that leverage PHC providers and community leaders for information dissemination should be utilised, given the high levels of trust, to ensure malaria vaccine uptake and accelerate progress in reducing under-five deaths. Keywords: Malaria vaccine, Caregiver awareness, Vaccine acceptance, Abia State, Nigeria

IntroductionThe fluoroquinolone levofloxacin is often selected for use prophylactically as well as during respiratory infections. However, studies on how these antibiotics may alter innate immunity, as opposed to their bactericidal activity, are limited.Materials & MethodsWe employed a murine model of therapeutically relevant antibiotic dosing to investigate the effect of prophylactic levofloxacin treatment on innate immunity.ResultsWe observed mild pathology at the barrier sites of both the lung and colon in terms of alveolar space and goblet cell numbers, respectively. Although we saw no alteration in lung immune populations of neutrophils, eosinophils, or dendritic cells, we did see heightened expression of macrophage inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Interestingly this was only present in the shorter-lived CD206− interstitial macrophage subset and not observed in the long-lived resident alveolar population. Within the large intestine levofloxacin also targeted iNOS expression in the shorter-lived TIM4-CD4+ population but conversely inhibiting expression in the microbially rich colon. We therefore utilized the bone marrow-derived macrophage system, devoid of microbial interactions and demonstrated that levofloxacin had a direct effect on driving iNOS expression and increasing phagocytosis but only when present in developing macrophages and not mature macrophage populations. Our macrophage observations were replicated in ciprofloxacin, but not doxycycline-treated animals, indicating a fluoroquinolone specific action. Mechanistically, fluoroquinolone treatment was associated with mitochondrial hyperpolarization, indicating a direct alteration of macrophage immunity via off target effects.ConclusionCollectively, this study demonstrates a direct action of fluoroquinolones on macrophage immunity, which should be considered when selecting antibiotics for tissue specific and prophylactic use.

We recently developed a family of materials, Porous Metal Halide Semiconductors (PMHS), that exhibit record water stability and tunable optoelectronic properties. However, the extent to which porosity influences these features remains unclear. Motivated by this, we report the synthesis of (DHT)(H3O)2Bi4I16·2(H2O) (DHT = [3.3.3] cryptand), where the custom-made DHT cage expands the pore size from 4.3 to 6.2 Å, compared to previously reported DHS-based analogs (DHS = [2.2.2] cryptand). The material has been water-stable for 24 months, featuring a single-crystal to single-crystal transformation, while gas and vapor sorption studies demonstrated that it can selectively adsorb and desorb H2O at 298 K. (DHT)(H3O)2Bi4I16·2(H2O) is a direct bandgap semiconductor that exhibits broad band-edge emission at room temperature. This combination of attributes prompted us to evaluate the material against Karenia brevis, an alga responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Our studies revealed that (DHT)(H3O)2Bi4I16·2(H2O) suppressed K. brevis growth at concentrations as low as 10 mg/L, with no inhibition observed against nontarget marine algae strains. This work elucidates the influence of porosity on the optoelectronic properties and water stability of PMHS compounds and underscores their potential for impactful, previously unexplored applications such as HAB mitigation.

Inefficient crop phosphorus (P) use impacts global food security and P fertilizer use can be environmentally harmful. Lines homozygous for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) low phytic acid 1-1 (lpa 1-1) have yields equivalent to the wild type but ~15% less seed Total P (TP). The objective here was to identify second-site mutations in the lpa1-1 background that condition a further reduction in seed TP, again with little impact on yield. A chemically mutagenized population was derived from lpa 1-1 and screened to identify lines with seed TP reductions greater than 15% (as compared with wild-type) but with seed weights per plant within 80% of wild-type. Three M4 lines were selected and evaluated in a greenhouse pot experiment. Plants were grown to maturity either on a soil with low soil P fertility (16 to 25 mg Olsen P L−1; Soil P Index 1) or with that soil supplemented (36 kg P ha−1) to provide optimal available soil P. Mean seed P reduction across the three lines and two soil P levels was 28%, a near doubling of the lpa1-1 seed Total P reduction. When grown with optimal soil available P, no impact of these putative mutations on grain yield was observed. These findings suggest that the three lpa 1-1-derived mutant lines carry second-site mutations conferring substantially (~17%) greater decreases in seed TP than that conferred by lpa 1-1. If the putative mutations are confirmed to be heritable and to have negligible impact on yield, they could be used in breeding P-efficient barley cultivars as a step towards reducing regional and global P demand.

Purpose This study investigates how agricultural technology (AgTech) innovation, from the perspective of rural women farmers, enhances green knowledge management (GKM) dimensions – namely acquisition, sharing and application – to drive sustainable farming. Additionally, it explores the moderating role of green intellectual capital (GIC) in strengthening the relationship between GKM dimensions and sustainable farming. Design/methodology/approach Guided by a post-positivist philosophical stance, the study employed a quantitative methodological approach and survey strategy. Data were collected from 450 purposively sampled rural women farmers engaged in livestock farming, mixed farming and crop production across three agriculturally vibrant regions in Ghana. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results reveal that AgTech significantly influences sustainable farming and the GKM dimensions of acquisition, sharing and application. Moreover, GKM dimensions partially mediate the relationship between AgTech and sustainable farming, while GIC moderates the relationship between GKM dimensions and sustainable farming, further strengthening their impact. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to integrate the natural resource-based view (NRBV), knowledge-based view (KBV) and resource-based view (RBV) to explore the interrelationships among AgTech, green knowledge management (GKM) and green intellectual capital (GIC) in promoting sustainable agriculture. It offers a novel theoretical contribution by combining these frameworks to explain sustainability outcomes in an underexplored context. Empirically, the study addresses a significant gap by focusing on rural women farmers in a developing economy, an often-overlooked group, in agri-digital research. Methodologically, it demonstrates the robustness of structural equation modeling (SEM) in capturing complex relationships among knowledge, resources and sustainability in agricultural systems.

Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is severe, often fatal in younger populations due to high‐energy deceleration mechanisms. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has revolutionised BTAI treatment, surpassing the previously standard open surgical repair in mortality and complication rates. Despite its success, concerns arise regarding TEVAR's long‐term effects, especially in younger BTAI patients. Key physiological changes following TEVAR include alterations in aortic size, shape, compliance and flow dynamics, leading to loss of the Windkessel effect and a consequent increased pulse wave velocity and decreased radial strain, which can contribute to the development of hypertension. These alterations also predispose patients to changes in cardiovascular flow (increased reverse systolic flow, reduced maximum velocity and altered helical flow), potentially increasing the risk of left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery disease. Physiological changes also increase the likelihood of complications such as graft migration. Clinical outcomes of TEVAR for BTAI have generally been favourable, with significant reductions in mortality and cerebrovascular accident rates compared to open surgical repair. However, long‐term complications, including the need for re‐interventions, remain a concern, though studies suggest these are infrequent. The durability of TEVAR in younger patients, who may experience decades of device use, poses unique challenges, particularly due to the natural progression of aortic morphology over time. Therefore, adapting TEVAR to the physiological needs of younger BTAI patients is essential. Developing more compliant endografts and using shorter stents with improved materials can help minimise structural and haemodynamic changes and enhance cardiovascular outcomes, supporting the long‐term health of this vulnerable population.

The R3 Center for Innovation in Science Education (R3ISE), established at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, addresses critical gaps in scientific education by instilling the core values of rigorous research, reproducible methods, and scientific responsibility in our students. Through graduate- and professional-level courses, certificate programs, workshops, and open-access resources, R3ISE fosters critical thinking, communication, leadership, and other skills essential for scientists. In this Backstory piece, faculty, students, alumni, and network partners reflect on their experiences with R3ISE, which were highlighted in the past year's annual symposium. In this symposium, themes such as ethical leadership, translating classroom theory into practice, and strategies to combat misinformation highlighted R3ISE sustained efforts and proposed further directions. These reflections exemplify how the R3ISE community continues to grow-fostering scientific integrity, resilience, and empathy within a global network committed to excellence and responsibility in the biomedical sciences.

Abstract Metaphorical frames are commonly used in public discourse in the United States of America to communicate about climate change and promote climate action. Previous work found climate metaphors to resonate more so with Democrats than with Republicans. Democrats are also more likely to increase their support for climate action. The present study investigated if tailoring climate metaphors to conservatives’ affective domain and personality traits may trigger metaphor realisation. It experimentally tested, for the first time, if a war frame for climate change which better fits with conservatives’ worldview, can induce fear and anger, and if these emotions alongside personality trait aggressiveness predict increasing support for climate action in both liberal (n = 63) and conservative (n = 63) respondents. The findings showed that the war frame induced fear in both groups, especially among Republicans, but not anger, and that it directly impacted climate attitudes, primarily among Democrats. Trait aggressiveness predicted lower support for climate action at baseline but did not predict attitudinal changes. These novel findings show conservatives are not climate apathetic and encourage further research into how the fear triggered by climate metaphors can be channelled into attitudinal changes in climate inactive populations.