Low Density Research Articles

Increased use of mud bottom by juvenile American Lobsters (Homarus americanus) in Maces Bay and Seal Cove, Bay of Fundy, after 3 decades of population increases and predator declines

In the Bay of Fundy, American lobster (Homarus americanus) abundance has soared since the early 1990s, and predators have declined, either of which could have caused juvenile lobster populations in preferred hard-bottom habitat to expand onto less-protective mud bottom. To investigate whether juvenile lobsters have increased use of mud bottom, we used SCUBA surveys (1989-2021) in Maces Bay and Seal Cove, in the Bay of Fundy. Whereas the 1990s surveys found no juveniles on mud at either site (though they were present on hard bottom), in subsequent decades, juveniles inhabited mud burrows at densities of 0.00039 m-2 to 0.0081 m-2. In Maces Bay, mud occupancy occurred after juvenile density increases on hard bottom, but evidence was mixed as to whether increased competition within hard-bottom habitat drove this change. Concurrent cod, haddock, hake, and wolffish declines suggest reduced predation also increased occupancy and survival on mud. Although it supports low juvenile densities, mud habitat may contribute to recruitment given its prevalence, particularly as warming seas allow lobster recruitment into cooler, deeper water over mud bottom.

Effects of vegetative ground cover on seedling establishment of the invasive liana old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba)

Abstract Opportunistic use of limited resources is often attributed to invasive species, and as a mature vine, old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba L.) is known to have devastating negative impacts on the trees it colonizes. No previous experimental studies have been published on how easily C. vitalba seedlings can colonize ground covered by other established vegetation. This species has had an increasing presence in forestry blocks and riparian zones in New Zealand, both of which usually maintain some grass cover. To determine the importance of vegetative ground cover for preventing ingress of new C. vitalba plants, this study looked at seedling emergence through the soil and establishment of C. vitalba within four different levels of grassy cover at three sites: (1) ground kept bare after vegetation removal; (2) ground bare at C. vitalba seed sowing, but thereafter allowed to recover; (3) vegetative cover trimmed to 4 cm high at C. vitalba sowing, and then allowed to recover; and (4) unmanaged vegetation. At the highest level of vegetation density (unmanaged vegetation), no C. vitalba seedlings were ever detected throughout a 1-yr monitoring period. At lower ground cover densities, poor seedling emergence was observed, with a maximum of 36% of seeds sown in bare plots producing a seedling. Also, seedlings did not survive past 1 yr, except in bare plots or in plots where vegetation grew sparsely. However, seedlings that did survive began producing multiple stems within 6 mo of emergence. These results indicate that obstacles to seedling emergence and poor development at the young seedling stage when vegetative cover is dense severely limit C. vitalba’s chances to invade new sites via seed. Yet some successful seedling recruitment does occur due to the magnitude of the propagule pressure on the landscape and the difficulty of maintaining high-density ground cover across large areas throughout the year.

Cleistopholis patens root bark extract exerts cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin-induced myocardial toxicity in rats

Abstract Background Myocardial Infarction still persists as the most prevalent cardiovascular disease and is a top cause of morbidity and mortality in doxorubicin treated cancer patients. This study evaluated the prophylactic effect of the ethanol root bark extract of Cleistopholis patens (ERBECP) against doxorubicin-induced myocardial infarction in wistar rats. Extraction, preliminary phytochemical analysis, acute toxicity study and body weight (b.w.) of ERBECP were achieved using standard methods. Phyto-constituents in ERBECP were indentified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) technique. Thirty (30) male albino Wistar rats of average b.w. ranging between 100 and 130 g were divided into six groups of five rats each. Groups I, II and III served as normal, doxorubicin (DOX) and standard (Vasoprin 150 mg/kg b.w) controls respectively, while groups IV, V and VI were orally pre-treated with the extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kgb.w) for two weeks prior to intraperitoneal induction of cardiotoxicity with DOX (20 mg/kg bw) on day 14. Results Disturbances in serum cardiac function bio-markers such as; Cardiac Troponin-I (CTnI), Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Lipid profile markers such as; Total cholesterol (TC), Triacylglycerol (TAG), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). Oxidative stress markers such as; Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione (GSH) confirmed the induction of myocardial infarction. Histological assessment of heart tissues was performed to validate biochemical results. The GC–MS analysis of ERBECP identified a total of 69 compounds. Safety profile of the aqueous extract was safe for the animals up to the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg b.w. Pre-treatment of DOX group with ERBECP could significantly increase the b.w. compared to the DOX-treated group during the experimental period of 2 weeks. There were significant (p < 0.05) alterations in the levels of CTnI, CK, LDH, AST, ALT and lipid profile indices in the DOX control rats. Also, significant (p < 0.05) increase was observed in MDA and decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH in the DOX control rats. However, administration of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) normalized these alterations and reversed the architectural changes in the heart. The 69 compounds were screened against the target protein (CBR1); we identified seven hits based on the docking score and interactions with the active site residues. All the C. patens constituents had MW (g/mol) less than 500, HBA < 10 and HBD not more than 5. Apart, 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, 2,3-dihydroxy propyl ester and Estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17. beta. -ol, all the constituents had LD50 lower than 2000 mg/kg. Conclusions The findings reveals ERBECP demonstrated promising potential and can be exploited in the development novel cardiac therapeutic agents.

Determination of mass attenuation coefficient for common prosthetic materials utilizing Monte Carlo simulation, theoretical analysis, and XCOM software

Abstract The accurate calculation of radiation doses in radiotherapy necessitates precise knowledge of the mass attenuation coefficients ( μ m ) of prosthetic materials. Thus, this study aims to determine the μ m of widely used prosthetic materials through theoretical methods, Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, and the XCOM photon cross-section database for the first time. Calculations were performed for the following medical sources: Pd-103, I-125, Cs -131, Tc-99m, Ba-133, Ir-192, Au-198, Cs-137, Ra-226 and Co-60 with a range of energies between 10 keV and 2 MeV. Outcomes reveal that in all three datasets increasing the energy reduces the μ m values for all provided materials. For instance, this value for MMA and PEG and MCNPX simulations, theoretical calculation, XCOM evaluation varies from 0.41911 to 0.09006 cm2.g−1, 0.39194 to 0.08583 cm2.g−1, 0.39790 to 0.08715 cm2.g−1, and 0.45099 to 0.09029 cm2.g−1, 0.42214 to 0.09050 cm2.g−1, 0.40040 to 0.08090 cm2.g-,1 respectively. Furthermore, for high density prosthetic materials like Steel, Titania, and Zinc oxide, μ m is higher specifically at low energy regions compared to low density prosthetic materials, while increasing the energy from 0.021 to 1.25 MeV, a different scenario is recorded. Moreover, MCNPX results exhibit higher deviations specifically in high energy regions compared to other approaches. However, this approach remains as accurate for prosthetic attenuation evaluation. The results of this study present a detailed classification of a wide range of prosthetic materials in terms of their applications and energy levels, serving as a significant reference for future research.

Investigation of dissolution behavior and surface integrity in electrochemical machining of nickel-based superalloys

ABSTRACT Dissolution behavior and surface integrity during the electrochemical machining (ECM) of nickel-based superalloys are vital for the performance of components. This study examines IN718, 718Plus, and Rene 65 alloys focusing on material removal mechanisms, surface morphology, intergranular corrosion, three-dimensional profiles, surface roughness, microhardness, and residual stresses. The results indicated that as the current density increased, the MRR of all three alloys increased linearly, while the current efficiency initially fluctuated before stabilizing. At low current densities, selective dissolution and intergranular corrosion resulted in rough surfaces for the alloys examined. In contrast, higher current densities produced smooth and uniform surfaces for these alloys. After electrochemical treatment, the surface microhardness of all alloys was reduced, and there was a slight decrease in residual stresses as well. These findings support the development of more precise and effective strategies for achieving higher surface integrity in the ECM of nickel-based superalloys.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt–Organic Framework as an Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting Application

ABSTRACTClimate change is seen as a crucial environmental dilemma that humanity will confront in the upcoming decade. For this purpose, the solvothermal‐assisted technique is used to create metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which are porous materials characterized by strong connections between organic ligands and metal ions. The MOF discussed here contains cobalt as the metal node and a linker derived from 2‐aminobenzoic acid and terephthalaldehyde. The prepared powder underwent analysis using various techniques including Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurement, and thermal analysis. BET analysis revealed a surface area of 1587.06 m2/g, a total pore volume of 0.86394 cc/g, and an average pore size of 1.088 nm. The RGO@Co‐MOF prepared was utilized to evaluate water splitting efficiency, demonstrating favorable catalytic activity like most reported modified MOF catalysts under low current density conditions of 10 mA/cm2.

Association of macular microcirculation with renal function in Chinese non-diabetic patients with hypertension.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of macular microcirculation with renal function and the feasibility of using macular microcirculatory parameters to monitor renal function in Chinese non-diabetic patients with hypertension. This case-control study included 62 non-diabetic patients with hypertension, including 31 with renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <90 mL/min/1.73 m2) and 31 with normal renal function (eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). Age, sex and clinic blood pressure were matched between groups. Macular microcirculatory parameters of 124 eyes of the 62 patients were evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). In comparison with the patients with normal renal function, patients with renal dysfunction had lower macular superficial parafovea vessel density (18.6 vs. 19.4%, P = 0.029), macular cube average thickness (273.0 vs. 280.2 µm, P = 0.003), and average ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL) thickness (79.5 vs. 82.8 µm, P = 0.006), but similar macular central fovea vessel density and central fovea thickness (P ≥ 0.54). After adjustment for confounders, eGFR was significantly associated with macular superficial parafovea vessel density, cube average thickness and GCL-IPL thickness (P < 0.02). In detecting renal dysfunction, areas under the curve were 0.61, 0.66 and 0.65 for macular superficial parafovea vessel density, cube average thickness and GCL-IPL thickness. In non-diabetic patients with hypertension, macular superficial parafovea vessel density, cube average thickness and GCL-IPL thickness were significantly worse in patients with renal dysfunction than those with normal renal function. Using macular parameters to monitor renal function is feasible.

The role of the Mediterranean Diet in preventing the development and complications of lifestyle diseases – a Review

IntroductionThe Mediterranean diet, inspired by traditional dietary habits of the Mediterranean region, exhibits anti-inflammatory and protective effects, reducing the risk of civilization diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. This diet is characterized by a high intake of plant-based foods, olive oil, and moderate consumption of fish and dairy products. These components provide unsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, and antioxidants, which positively impact metabolic health and lower the risk of chronic diseases. In the face of the global obesity epidemic and an increasing number of individuals affected by lifestyle-related diseases, the Mediterranean diet offers a promising tool to support a healthy lifestyle. Aim of study This article aims to review current scientific studies evaluating the potential of the Mediterranean diet in preventing and managing civilization diseases. Particular attention is given to its effects on weight loss, improvements in glycemic markers, reductions in low density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol levels, and blood pressure control. The article also explores its benefits for athletes' health, as well as its potential to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory states. Material and methods A literature review of the PubMed database was conducted, assessing relevant studies on the Mediterranean diet and its impact on lifestyle diseases.

Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America.

Wolverine distribution contracted along the southern periphery of its range in North America during the 19th and 20th centuries due primarily to human influences. This history, along with low densities, sensitivity to climate change, and concerns about connectivity among fragmented habitats spurred the recent US federal listing of threatened status and special concern status in Canada. To help inform large scale landscape connectivity, we collected 882 genetic samples genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci. We employed multiple statistical models to assess the landscape factors (terrain complexity, human disturbance, forest configuration, and climate) associated with wolverine genetic connectivity across 2.2million km2of southwestern Canada and the northwestern contiguous United States. Genetic similarity (positive spatial autocorrelation) of wolverines was detected up to 555km and a high-to-low gradient of genetic diversity occurred from north-to-south. Landscape genetics analyses confirmed that wolverine genetic connectivity has been negatively influenced by human disturbance at broad scales and positively influenced by forest cover and snow persistence at fine- and broad-scales, respectively. This information applied across large landscapes can be used to guide management actions with the goal of maintaining or restoring population connectivity.

Impact of Cassava Cultivars on Stylet Penetration Behavior and Settling of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

This study investigates the settling preferences and feeding behavior of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly on six cassava cultivars using electrical penetration graph techniques. Six distinct electrical penetration graph waveforms—non-probing, stylet pathway, phloem salivation, phloem ingestion, intracellular puncture, and xylem feeding—were identified and analyzed. Significant differences in the frequency and duration of these waveforms were observed among the cassava cultivars. The whiteflies spent the majority of their time in the non-probing phase, particularly on the Huaybong 80, Kasetsart 50, Rayong 9, and Rayong 72 cultivars. CMR-89 cultivar exhibited higher total probe durations in the phloem salivation and ingestion waveforms, suggesting a greater potential for transmission of the Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus. The study also examined trichome density and size across the cassava cultivars, revealing that CMR-89 had the highest density and small trichomes, while Huaybong 80 had the lowest density. Trichome characteristics significantly impacted whitefly behavior: larger trichomes were negatively correlated with whitefly settling, whereas higher trichome density was positively correlated with longer settling durations. These findings indicate that trichome-based resistance mechanisms are crucial in whitefly deterrence. Overall, the results suggest that cultivars with lower trichome density and larger trichomes are more resistant to whitefly infestation and subsequent Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus transmission. These insights are valuable for cassava breeding programs focused on enhancing pest resistance, highlighting the importance of trichome characteristics in developing more resilient cassava varieties.

Controlling spheroid attachment improves pancreatic beta cell differentiation from human iPS cells.

Regenerative medicine using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is available for treating type 1 diabetes; however, the efficiency and maturation of hiPSC differentiation into pancreatic beta cells requires improvement. Various protocols, including three-dimensional (3D) culture, have been developed to improve differentiation efficiency and maturation. Several methods for 3D culture have been reported; however, they require costly and complicated equipment, special materials, and complicated operations. To solve these problems, we developed a simple 3D culture method under static conditions using a cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) characterized by high moisture barrier properties, low surface energy, and hydrophobicity. Using this 3D method and our simple and low-cost protocol, we found that differentiation into the definitive endoderm (DE) was better when the spheroids were attached. Therefore, upon the addition of Y-27632, attached spheroids with unique shapes and cavities were formed, and the differentiation efficiency into DE increased. During DE differentiation, the attachment of spheroids to the substrate and their subsequent floating improved differentiation efficiency. We found that the amount of C-peptide in spheroids differentiated using COP dishes was greater than that in rotary culture. Furthermore, INSULIN was highly expressed in areas with low cell density, suggesting that the unique shape of the spheroids made from COP dishes improved differentiation efficiency. Our study suggests that a device-free, simple 3D culture method that controls spheroid attachment improves the efficiency of hiPSC differentiation into pancreatic beta cells.

Heterostructural interface engineering for ultrawide-gap nitrides from first principles: TaC / AlN and TaC / GaN rocksalt-wurtzite interfaces

Epitaxial lattice matching is an important condition for the formation of coherent interfaces with low defect densities. However, lattice-matched substrates with the same crystal structure as the active layer are often not available, suggesting opportunities for utilizing heterostructural interfaces. For example, at high Al contents that are interesting for ultrawide-gap applications in power electronics, AlxGa1−xN semiconductor alloys in the (0001) orientation of the wurtzite (wz) structure become lattice-matched to (111)-oriented rocksalt (rs) TaC substrates. To predict the expected interface atomic structures under different synthesis conditions, we perform high-throughput density-functional-theory calculations, using an algorithm for systematic sampling of the possible stacking sequences of the atomic layers on the in-plane hexagonal lattice. The approach considers octahedral, tetrahedral, and prismatic coordination motifs, and is generally applicable for the modeling of commensurate rs/wz heterostructural interfaces. Our results provide guidance for synthesis control of substrate-film bonding and the polarity of ultrawide-gap AlxGa1−xN alloys on TaC substrates. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A tetraspecific engager armed with a non-alpha IL-2 variant harnesses natural killer cells against B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

NK cells offer a promising alternative to T cell therapies in cancer. We evaluated IPH6501, a clinical-stage, tetraspecific NK cell engager (NKCE) armed with a non-alpha IL-2 variant (IL-2v), which targets CD20 and was developed for treating B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). CD20-NKCE-IL2v boosts NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity, showing activity against a range of B-NHL cell lines, including those with low CD20 density. Whereas it presented reduced toxicities compared with those commonly associated with T cell therapies, CD20-NKCE-IL2v showed greater killing efficacy over a T cell engager targeting CD20 in in vitro preclinical models. CD20-NKCE-IL2v also increased the cell surface expression of NK cell-activating receptors, leading to activity against CD20-negative tumor cells. In vivo studies in nonhuman primates and tumor mouse models further validated its efficacy and revealed that CD20-NKCE-IL2v induces peripheral NK cell homing at the tumor site. CD20-NKCE-IL2v emerges as a potential alternative in the treatment landscape of B-NHL.

A Special Kind of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections

Abstract It is generally believed that Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have magnetic flux rope structures because of their helical shapes. However, only about 30-40% of interplanetary CMEs (ICMEs) have a local magnetic flux rope structure. The usually explanations are that the spacecraft only crossed the flank of the ropes and failed to detect the complete magnetic flux rope structure, or some processes destruct these magnetic flux rope structure. Several studies suggest that some ICMEs inherently possess disordered magnetic fields and consequently exhibit no magnetic flux-rope structures. We introduce a special kind of ICMEs. They have low magnetic field magnitude and stable magnetic field direction, relatively fast expansion speed, lower proton temperature and density. Their all three measured magnetic field components are relatively stable. We want to know whether these ICMEs also have magnetic flux rope structures or not. We identified 20 special ICMEs and analyzed their evolution based on their observed characteristics. We took a special ICME as example, which had apparent rope configuration at 1 AU but evolved to a special ICME at 5.4 AU, to illustrated that this kind of ICMEs may come from magnetic clouds (MCs) whose rope structure had been being stretched due to expansion. We inferred that the missing of obvious flux rope structure may be due to the expansion of MCs, not the flank crossing effect. However, more than 50% of the events were associated with dominant x-component of the magnetic filed, which indicates a leg crossing. Therefore, the detection of part of these special ICMEs may also be results of leg crossing effect.

Theoretical kinetics with one-dimensional fluid model and experimental investigation on coaxial XeCl excilamps

Abstract This paper presents a one-dimensional homogenous model of high power-density XeCl excilamp pumped by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with larger discharge gap and lower Cl2 density in Xe/Cl2 mixture, to research the electrical and chemical discharge characteristics leading to the production of XeCl* molecules for the optimal discharge parameters. The peaked wavelength 308 nm from the emission band of XeCl* exciplex molecules, show great promise as photochemotherapy for biomedicine applications. The temporal evolutions of the plasma voltage, current density and the species densities have been analyzed. The model validity has been checked by comparing with the experimental results. It is shown that the XeCl excilamp is a capacitive discharge during the entire voltage cycle and the accumulation of charge deposited in the dielectric surfaces play an extreme role in promoting the extinction of this discharge and the generation of next discharge. The UV radiant efficiency of the DBD XeCl excilamp depends on effect of the discharge behavior on the amplitude of the applied voltage, the total gas pressure, and the Cl2 density. XeCl excilamp has an optimized pressure around 150 mbar with the maximum radiant efficiency of 8.5% for 308 nm from XeCl* molecules and 1.3% for 172 nm from Xe2* molecules. According to the corrected simulation, the radiant efficiency of the optimum pressure is 6.0% for XeCl*molecules. Cl2 density in DBD-based XeCl excilamp strongly influence the balance of electron production and loss due to the dominant dissociative attachment process of electrons to Cl2 molecules, which have significant dependence on the UV light output efficiency. It is demonstrated that the highest XeCl* density occurs near the dielectric during the current pulse. Therefore, electrical and radiant characteristics of XeCl excilamps can be considered as the basis to design the high power-density exciplex lamps in practical applications.&amp;#xD;

Inductively Coupled Plasma Reactive Ion Etching of (−201) β‐Ga2O3 Nano‐Fins

This study reports the effect of inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching using a BCl3/Ar gas mixture on the sidewall taper angle (STA), etch rate, and surface morphology of (−201) β‐Ga2O3 substrates, as well as (−201)‐oriented β‐Ga2O3 films on sapphire, for nano‐fins of ≈200 nm width. Various etch parameters are systematically investigated for the β‐Ga2O3 films on sapphire, revealing that the STA is lower at high plasma density when chemical component increases, and the ion scattering decreases; achieving a STA of 1.5° ± 0.7°, accompanied by an etch rate of 114 nm min−1 and a reduction in surface roughness compared to before etching. Additionally, a strong positive correlation between the STA and the crystal orientation in the β‐Ga2O3 substrates is observed at lower plasma density, while a weak correlation is found between the STA and the crystal orientation at high plasma density. This study provides valuable insights for the fabrication of β‐Ga2O3 devices.

Empirical versus estimated accuracy of imputation: optimising filtering thresholds for sequence imputation.

Genotype imputation is a cost-effective method for obtaining sequence genotypes for downstream analyses such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, low imputation accuracy can increase the risk of false positives, so it is important to pre-filter data or at least assess the potential limitations due to imputation accuracy. In this study, we benchmarked three different imputation programs (Beagle 5.2, Minimac4 and IMPUTE5) and compared the empirical accuracy of imputation with the software estimated accuracy of imputation (Rsqsoft). We also tested the accuracy of imputation in cattle for autosomal and X chromosomes, SNP and INDEL, when imputing from either low-density or high-density genotypes. The accuracy of imputing sequence variants from real high-density genotypes was higher than from low-density genotypes. In our software benchmark, all programs performed well with only minor differences in accuracy. While there was a close relationship between empirical imputation accuracy and the imputation Rsqsoft, this differed considerably for Minimac4 compared to Beagle 5.2 and IMPUTE5. We found that the Rsqsoft threshold for removing poorly imputed variants must be customised according to the software and this should be accounted for when merging data from multiple studies, such as in meta-GWAS studies. We also found that imposing an Rsqsoft filter has a positive impact on genomic regions with poor imputation accuracy due to large segmental duplications that are susceptible to error-prone alignment. Overall, our results showed that on average the imputation accuracy for INDEL was approximately 6% lower than SNP for all software programs. Importantly, the imputation accuracy for the non-PAR (non-Pseudo-Autosomal Region) of the X chromosome was comparable to autosomal imputation accuracy, while for the PAR it was substantially lower, particularly when starting from low-density genotypes. This study provides an empirically derived approach to apply customised software-specific Rsqsoft thresholds for downstream analyses of imputed variants, such as needed for a meta-GWAS. The very poor empirical imputation accuracy for variants on the PAR when starting from low density genotypes demonstrates that this region should be imputed starting from a higher density of real genotypes.

Key influencers of mass drug administration implementation and scale-up: a social network analysis of soil-transmitted helminth intervention platforms in Benin, India, and Malawi

IntroductionLarge community-based public health programs, like mass drug administration (MDA), require coordination across many stakeholders. We used social network analysis (SNA) to systematically identify the network of stakeholders who influence delivery of school-based and community-wide MDA for soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in Benin, India, and Malawi and determine how network dynamics may impact implementation and scale-up across these delivery platforms.MethodsThis study was embedded within the implementation science research of the DeWorm3 Project, a hybrid clinical trial in Benin, India, &amp;amp; Malawi testing the feasibility of STH transmission interruption via community-wide MDA. Sites developed lists of stakeholders engaged in both MDA programs and indicated stakeholders’ attitudes towards the intervention and influence over intervention delivery. We developed digital sociograms for both MDA networks by site, comparing baseline vs. endline. We descriptively compared changes over time in stakeholder attitudes and influence and key SNA measures, including centrality, centralization, and density.ResultsAcross sites, we identified an expansive network of stakeholders involved in delivery of school-based (N= 139, 63, 58 vs. N=139, 162, 63) and community-wide MDA programs (N=52, 137, 54 vs. N=54, 136, 60) at baseline vs. endline in Benin, India, and Malawi, respectively. At both timepoints, a majority (&amp;gt;70%) of stakeholders held positive attitudes towards both programs. For both programs, stakeholders with the highest degree centrality scores (i.e., the most connected individuals) were those responsible for implementation such as community drug distributors or school teachers, while those with the highest betweenness centrality scores (i.e. those who controlled resource or information flow across networks) were responsible for policy-making &amp;amp; program leadership (e.g., NTD Program Managers). Low density scores indicated networks had poor overall connectedness due to minimal connectivity across administrative levels, while low centralization scores reflected stable networks where no single individual exhibited high control over resource flow.ConclusionDuring stages of innovation, redesign, or scale-up, analyzing the network of policymakers and implementers provides an opportunity to optimize effectiveness and efficiency of public health programs. Study findings provide useful insight for NTD policymakers and implementers in STH-endemic countries aiming to successfully interrupt STH transmission by transitioning from school-based to community-wide MDA.

Clinical evaluation of periodontium tissues in the patients with low bone mineral density

Summary. Diagnostics and treatment of periodontal diseases remain a topical problem of modern dentistry, the issue of their relationship with the changes in dento-alveolar complex and bone system is requiring thorough study. The aim of the study – to study the condition of periodontium tissues in the patients with low bone mineral density. Materials and Methods. 242 patients (116 men and 126 women), aged 18–60 years, have been examined. The females, in their turn, have been divided into 2 groups: Group 1 – 61 women of reproductive age, aged 18–49 years; Group 2 – 65 women, aged 50–60 years, with three and more postmenopausal years. Results and Discussion. Uniform prevalence and nosological structure of periodontium tissue diseases have been found both in males and females, the frequency of periodontium disease detection being 85.34 percent for men and 88.88 percent – for women, р&gt;0.05. However, the intensity of the course of dystrophic and inflammatory lesions of periodontium tissues was much more pronounced in females as compared with males that was confirmed by index assessment of periodontal indices. Conclusions. Thus, high prevalence of periodontium tissue diseases (87.19±2.14) percent has been found in the patients with low bone mineral density, the intensity of disease course being much more pronounced in females in contrast to males.

How to Count Parrots: Comparing the Performance of Point and Transect Counts for Surveying Tasman Parakeets (Cyanoramphus cookii)

Obtaining precise estimates of population size and trends through time is important for the effective management and conservation of threatened species. For parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), obtaining such estimates can be challenging, particularly for cryptic species that occur in low densities in complex and/or fragmented habitats. We used a statistical resampling approach with the aim to compare the reliability and precision of counts for the critically endangered Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) that were taken using two methods on Norfolk Island (Pacific Ocean), namely, fixed-point counts and line transect counts. The detections obtained during fixed-point counts had better estimated precision (0.274) than line transect counts (0.476). The fixed-point method was also more efficient, yielding 1.338 parakeet detections per count compared to the 0.642 parakeet detections per count obtained by the line transect method. Although Tasman parakeets can be detected by either of these methods, our research demonstrates that the fixed-point method is more precise and reliable. These findings can help prioritise resources for the long-term monitoring of recovering populations of this species and similar island species.