ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine treatment modalities, outcomes, and factors associated with in-hospital survival among people with HIV (PHIV) diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis (CM) in Tanzania.MethodsThis hospital-based cross-sectional study retrospectively reviewed records of PHIV admitted to medical wards at Dodoma and Singida Regional Referral Hospitals in Tanzania from July 2019 to June 2024. Data on socio-demographics, antiretroviral therapy (ART) status, CD4 count, treatment, and outcomes were extracted using a standardised data collection tool. The primary outcome was in-hospital survival (discharged alive vs died). Descriptive statistics summarised patient characteristics, and modified Poisson regression with robust variance estimated adjusted risk ratios (aRR) for factors associated with being discharged alive.ResultsA total of 159 PHIV with CM records were reviewed. Of these, 89 (56.0%) were aged 36–55 years, 89 (56.0%) were female, and 138 (86.8%) were in WHO clinical stage IV. Of 159 patients, 88 (55.3%) received fluconazole monotherapy. In-hospital mortality among CM patients was 65 (46.5%). Discharge alive occurred in 61/73 (83.6%) of those on amphotericin B–based regimens versus 13/66 (19.7%) on fluconazole monotherapy. Patients treated with amphotericin B–based regimens were four times more likely to be discharged alive compared to those on fluconazole monotherapy (aPR = 4.19, 95% CI: 2.46–7.16, p < 0.001).ConclusionCM remains a leading opportunistic infection causing high mortality among PHIV, with most patients managed using fluconazole monotherapy. In-hospital survival was significantly higher with amphotericin B–based regimens, highlighting the need to align practice with guideline recommendations. Further qualitative research is warranted to explore barriers to implementing recommended CM treatment.

Abstract Untangling the spatial and temporal processes that influence the population dynamics of migratory species is challenging, because changes in abundance are shaped by variation in demographic rates across differing environments throughout the annual cycle. Population and demographic data available on migratory species are often fragmentary, providing only local, season‐specific perspectives. To be effective, conservation strategies require range‐wide, full‐annual‐cycle knowledge. We developed a novel approach to link data from different segments of the population in a unified framework using stage‐ and season‐specific population growth rates to assess population trends and conservation interventions for the New Zealand endemic migratory tōrea (South Island pied oystercatcher, Haematopus finschi ). We combined demographic data collected at breeding and non‐breeding sites between 1980 and 2022 in an integrated population model and population viability analysis to (a) determine population dynamics over time, (b) identify underlying drivers of change by estimating stage‐ and season‐specific demographic rates and (c) evaluate future conservation interventions and interacting threats that are likely to primarily affect survival by comparing future population trajectories through a range of scenarios. The tōrea population has been declining over the past 42 years by an average of 1.8% annually. Summer survival probabilities were generally higher than winter survival probabilities. Adult survival probability fluctuated less over time than the other demographic rates. Variation in population growth rates was most strongly associated with subadult winter survival ( r = 0.29). The population viability analysis showed that conservation interventions aimed at improving productivity would only be beneficial if survival probabilities remain at current levels. It is unlikely that additional mortality due to future, increased threats on survival can be offset by increased productivity. Synthesis and applications. The tōrea population decline suggests the need for a higher IUCN threat classification and a conservation strategy (e.g. habitat protection and restoration) targeting multiple demographic rates across the annual cycle of tōrea. Our novel approach using population growth rates to link fragmented local, season‐specific data to model range‐wide full‐annual‐cycle dynamics has the potential to guide the conservation of migratory species where existing data are similarly fragmented.

Oxidative stress and retinal damage induced by cobalt chloride in Drosophila melanogaster: Insights into cone cell susceptibility and stress gene responses.

Species recognition is essential for reproductive isolation and plays a central role in the evolution of mating signals. In acoustically communicating species, temporal features of calls are critical for distinguishing conspecific from heterospecific signals. Anurans rely heavily on the precise timing of pulse trains for mate recognition. Females of Hyla chrysoscelis use the species-specific temporal structure of male advertisement (Adv) calls-specifically pulse rate (PR)-to select mates. For stimuli with the Adv call PR (40-60 pulses/s), females require at least ~ 6-7 pulses to approach a sound source, implicating interval-counting neurons (ICNs) in call recognition. To test this model and further investigate the neural basis of this temporal selectivity, we used behavioral and neurophysiological approaches. We lengthened interpulse intervals (IPIs) in pulse trains either at a single midpoint or in an alternating fashion while holding pulse number and, thus, stimulus energy constant. In phonotaxis assays, females showed sharply reduced responses when even one IPI was lengthened twofold or more, revealing high sensitivity to temporal irregularity. Single-unit in vivo extracellular recordings from the auditory midbrain revealed that ICNs exhibited a progressive decline in activity with increasing IPI length, closely mirroring behavioral trends. In contrast, long-interval neurons (LINs) responded more strongly to temporally irregular stimuli. These results support the hypothesis that ICNs mediate behavioral selectivity for conspecific Adv call temporal patterns, whereas LINs may contribute to processing other call types. Our study directly links a defined neuronal population to natural behavior, underscoring how midbrain temporal computations underlie species-specific recognition in Hyla chrysoscelis.

Abstract When resources are limited, iteroparous species often favor their own survival over reproductive investment. Even under the umbrella of iteroparity, however, resource allocation strategies vary markedly among species. One key axis of variation is the capital–income breeding continuum, which is defined by the degree of reliance on stored energy to finance reproduction. In theory, the influence of local environmental conditions on optimal reproductive strategies should lead to both inter‐ and intraspecific variation in allocation of resources to reproduction. Yet little is known about the mechanisms that underpin life‐history variation within species or about the consequences of that variation. Bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ) are generally considered to be capital breeders, relying on energy and protein reserves to finance reproduction. Nevertheless, bighorn sheep occupy a diversity of landscapes, and the potential for life‐history strategies to vary across environmental gradients remains largely unexplored. We linked spatiotemporal variation in forage quality and biomass to behavior, survival, and reproduction of female bighorn sheep across 3 populations that spanned a range of environmental conditions: a grassland environment with low seasonality and abundant, predictable forage, and 2 populations in highly seasonal alpine environments where resources were spatially and temporally unpredictable. During spring and summer, 2019–2022, we sampled digestible energy, protein, and biomass of vegetation at all 3 sites, and monitored behavior and performance metrics (i.e., autumn body fat, adult survival, pregnancy rates, and juvenile survival) of bighorn sheep in each population. Bighorn sheep in the grassland environment exhibited a more income‐based life‐history strategy: use of the foodscape positively influenced neonate survival, and probability of pregnancy and overwinter survival of adults were insensitive to changes in autumn body fat. In contrast, alpine bighorn sheep exhibited a more capital‐based strategy wherein probability of pregnancy and overwinter survival of adults were positively influenced by autumn body fat, but relationships between juvenile survival and maternal behavior (e.g., foodscape selection) were more variable. Our work demonstrates that life‐history strategies can vary markedly within a species as a function of local adaptation to environmental conditions that determine the strength of tradeoffs between survival and reproduction. This variation should be considered when developing approaches for conservation and management.

Early-life socialization (comingling with other litters before weaning) may affect social behaviors in pigs, but whether the impacts are sex-dependent is unknown. We assessed the effects of early-life socialization on interactions and behavioral responses of female and male pigs in a controlled test setting. Piglets (N = 12 litters) were either comingled from 14 days of age till weaning (Socialized, SOC) or not (Control, CON). Pigs (n= 96) were weaned at 28 days of age and regrouped in mixed-sex groups of eight. At 40 days of age, pigs were individually placed in an arena with one pen mate and one unfamiliar pig of the same sex kept behind fences. Behaviors (exploring the environment, exploring the fences, social contact, aggression, etc.) were observed for 8 min. Generalized linear mixed models with treatment and sex as fixed and pen as random effects were used. Overall, males spent more time exploring the fences of conspecifics than females. Although aggression was displayed by only a small minority of pigs overall, it was more frequently directed towards unfamiliar pigs. Despite this low prevalence, SOC pigs (10.4%) were significantly less likely to show aggression towards strangers than CON pigs (27.7%) (p = 0.0217), with this effect observed irrespective of sex. Critically, a time-dependent treatment-by-sex interaction emerged for the time spent exploring the pen mate’s fence. While the interaction was only a trend over the full 8 min (p = 0.0889), it became statistically significant during the latter 4 min of the test (p = 0.049). This interaction was observed, with SOC-males spending more time on this behavior than SOC-females and all CON pigs, potentially indicating a time-specific and possible shift in social preference. General exploratory and locomotor behaviors (including walking, standing, and general exploration of the environment) were not or only minimally influenced by treatment or sex. In conclusion, early socialization has a significant impact on reducing aggression towards unfamiliar conspecifics. However, the effects on social preference and interactions appear sex-dependent, possibly indicating an enhanced preference for familiar pen mates in males under specific testing conditions.

ABSTRACT Close‐kin mark‐recapture (CKMR) uses data on the frequency of kin pair relationships (e.g., parent‐offspring, half‐siblings) in genetic samples from animal populations to estimate parameters such as abundance and adult survival probability. To date, most applications of CKMR have relied on a pseudo‐likelihood approximation where pairwise comparisons of relatedness are assumed to be independent. This approximation works well when abundance is high and the sampled fraction of the population is low (as with many marine fisheries), but has been understudied in small populations. Small populations and nonrandom mating structures also lead to problems with using second‐order kin for estimation because one cannot typically differentiate half‐siblings from other kin pair types like aunt‐niece. In this paper, I perform one of the first assessments of CKMR for use in small populations. This assessment includes exploration of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) as a way of relaxing the pseudo‐likelihood independence assumption. Under this approach, one only needs the ability to simulate population and sampling dynamics and to summarize resulting statistics in an informative way (e.g., number of kin pairs of different types). After exploring bias and interval coverage in several simulation studies, I illustrate these procedures on CKMR data from a Canadian caribou population. I show that ABC substantially improves interval coverage, and allows inference for difficult biologies where it would be difficult to calculate the analytical probabilities necessary for a binomial pseudo‐likelihood. That said, they can also result in positive bias in abundance estimators when simple trend models are fitted to data from multi‐year monitoring programs. Notwithstanding these challenges, simulation‐based approaches to inference show potential for expanding the application of CKMR to small populations and for breeding dynamics that are difficult to model.

ABSTRACT Large‐scale multi‐objective optimization problems are widely used in expert systems and applications, which mainly consider the simultaneous optimization of multiple conflicting objectives under large‐scale decision variables. Existing methods typically classify decision variables as either convergence‐ or diversity‐related, neglecting their inherent characteristics and thus failing to balance convergence and diversity effectively. In order to address above issues, this article proposes a Large‐scale Multi‐objective Dual‐population Co‐evolutionary Algorithm based on decision variable boundary penalty (LMDCA). The proposed algorithm first uses a boundary penalty based cross decision variable analysis method to quantitatively analyze the decision variables, which can quantify the contribution values of convergence variables on different objective functions for grouping. Then, according to different variable groups, different optimization strategies are adopted to more accurately approximate the Pareto front of each objective. Subsequently, the convergence and diversity populations were constructed by combining the dual‐population co‐evolutionary framework, in which three strategies of directional restriction of mating choice, environmental selection and information compensation were designed for co‐interaction within each of the populations to ensure the integrity of population evolution information. We conducted extensive comparisons with current algorithms on multiple benchmark datasets and real‐world problems. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is superior to the compared algorithms and exhibits strong competitiveness in practical applications.

This study investigated racial disparities in mortality after heart transplantation across 4 regions of the United States: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. The United Network for Organ Sharing registry was evaluated for all adult heart transplant recipients (HTr) from 2002 to 2022. HTr were grouped by US regional residency and by 5 self-identified race/ethnicity groups: White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to assess mortality rates. A total of 33 223 patients were analyzed. Mortality rates showed significant differences in regional disparities for White HTr (P = 0.002) at 6 mo, 1 y, and 5 y posttransplant and for Other recipients (P = 0.004) at 5 y posttransplant. When compared with the Northeast in the unadjusted analysis, White HTr had an increased mortality in the South (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.20]; P < 0.001), and a decreased mortality risk in the West (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.79-0.92]; P < 0.001). However, when adjusted for covariables, there was only a significant decrease in mortality risk in the West (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.69-0.86]; P < 0.001). There are significant differences in mortality risk among White HTr, with a higher mortality risk in the South and a lower mortality risk in the West in the unadjusted analysis. In the multivariate analysis, White HTr from the Western region had a lower mortality risk. No significant geographic differences were observed among Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Other recipients, suggesting that factors influencing posttransplant outcomes in these groups may be more consistent throughout the United States.

ABSTRACT Biopesticides based on entomopathogenic fungi are considered a potential alternative for controlling stink bug populations in soybean and maize crops. We investigated the susceptibility of immature stages of Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1974) and Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas, 1851) (Pentatomidae, Carpocorini) to infections by 30 strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium spp. In general, Metarhizium spp. strains exhibited a greater capacity to reduce egg hatching and infect nymphs of both E. heros and D. melacanthus compared to B. bassiana . Bioassays with two selected strains, one of each fungal species ( M . anisopliae CG1127 and B. bassiana CG1105), demonstrated a 10%–30% reduction in egg hatching compared to untreated eggs of both stink bugs, regardless of egg age (1, 2, or 3 days old). Second‐instar E. heros nymphs demonstrated higher susceptibility to M. anisopliae CG1127 infections than fourth‐instar nymphs, with ST 50 of 5.1 and 5.7, respectively. Furthermore, co‐infection assays showed that M . anisopliae CG1127 was more prevalent than B. bassiana CG1105, and no synergistic effect was observed against either E. heros or D. melacanthus nymphs. Adult survival of both E. heros and D. melacanthus after treatment with both strains consistently remained &gt; 80%. Additionally, the number of eggs produced by E. heros females treated with fungal conidia did not differ significantly from the control. Our findings suggest that applications of selected fungal strains should primarily target the immature stages of both stink bug species to optimize biopesticide performance in field conditions.

The redlegged earth mite (RLEM, Halotydeus destructor (Tucker)), a major agricultural pest in Australia, is primarily managed by synthetic pesticides. However, the emergence of pesticide resistance in many field populations has prompted growing interest in alternative biopesticides. In the laboratory, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin significantly affected both RLEM adults and nymphs when applied in vial or agar-based bioassays, but not in a leaf dip assay. A field rate of a commercial formulation of Beauveria registered for control of 2-spotted spider mites significantly reduced RLEM survival and reproduction. Lower concentrations decreased mite survival but paradoxically increased reproductive output. In a microcosm 'semi-field' trial, all tested concentrations of Beauveria reduced the survival of RLEM adults but did not necessarily decrease net reproductive output. In conclusion, B. bassiana has efficacy against RLEM, however a hormetic effect at low concentrations may enhance offspring production. Further research is necessary to explore optimal concentrations, thermotolerance, product formulations, mite life stages, and field-based efficacy.

Epidemiology and survival of adolescent and young adults with brain metastases compared to older adults.

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most aggressive primary brain tumor, particularly among older adults, with limited therapeutic advancements over the past two decades. Temozolomide was approved in 2005 and tumor treating fields (TTF) in 2011, yet the impact of these therapies on long-term survival remains unclear. We used the SEER 17 database to identify patients aged 65 and older diagnosed with GBM between 2000 and 2021. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and median OS along with 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates were compared across four treatment eras: pre-temozolomide (2000–2004), post-temozolomide (2005–2010), post-TTF (2011–2016), and the modern era (2017–2021). Across all eras, survival declined with increasing age, and females consistently demonstrated better survival than males in corresponding age groups. A statistically significant improvement in survival was observed across eras (log-rank p &amp;lt; 0.001), with the most notable gains occurring during the 2011–2016 period. The 65–69 age group consistently exhibited the highest survival probabilities at each interval, while the ≥80 age group showed the poorest outcomes. Although short-term survival has improved modestly over time,likely reflecting better diagnostics, supportive care, and initial therapeutic impact, 5-year survival remains low across all eras, suggesting minimal long-term benefit from currently approved treatments. These findings underscore the persistent challenges in managing GBM in the elderly population and highlight age and sex as important prognostic factors. Despite the introduction of temozolomide and TTF, long-term survival in older adults with GBM has not significantly improved, emphasizing the need for more effective and personalized therapeutic strategies. Continued investment in novel treatments and clinical trials focused on older adults is essential to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Competitive industrial farming of Tenebrio molitor L. requires strategies aimed at reducing production costs and improving overall efficiency. Among variable costs, feed is one of the most significant components. Previous research has mainly focused on the nutritional composition of diets, the use of agri-food by-products, and the optimization of multicomponent formulations, sometimes administered in pelleted form during bioassays. However, knowledge about the influence of the administration form is scarce. This study investigated the effects of different feed forms—finely ground (&lt;0.5 mm), coarsely ground (0.5–2 mm), and assembled (pellets, cookies, and crumbles)—on both adult and larval performance. Three feeds (wheat bran, brewer’s spent grain, and chicken feed) were tested to assess adult productivity and larval growth. The results showed non-significant differences in adult survival between feed forms, whereas finely ground feed significantly increased adult productivity and the survival of newborn larvae. Furthermore, larvae in the growing phase (40–60 days old) were able to effectively utilize assembled feeds, with no significant differences in larval weight compared to those reared on ground diets. These findings suggest that pelleted formulations for T. molitor farming should include a fraction of finely ground material to support early larval stages, thereby optimizing survival and development. Moreover, the different influence of feed form provides useful information for planning evaluation trials of multicomponent assembled diets.

Optimising reproduction of Tenebrio molitor (TM) is a key factor for improving farm productivity. Three experiments were conducted to investigate how beetles size influences reproductive performance of TM. Experiment 1 (1a and 1b) assessed size-based mate preferences among 14–day-old beetles. In 1a, beetles were grouped into four weight categories across 18 replicates; 1b involved two groups with 76 replicates. Mating behaviour was analysed among mixed-size males and females. Experiment 2 compared reproductive output across three weight classes (80–100 mg, 101–120 mg, 121–140 mg) in groups of 10 males and 10 females; outcomes included larval number, weight, and daily gain. Experiment 3 examined parental weight effects on larval traits and estimated heritability. Results indicated that both large and small males preferentially mated with larger females during initial mating events (66.7% and 72.2%, respectively). Male competition to mate first was evident, independent of female size. Beetle size did not consistently affect the number of larvae produced. However, larger beetles generated significantly heavier larvae, with this weight advantage maintained up to 8 weeks (137 mg vs 130 mg and 121 mg), potentially enhancing production efficiency. Paternal weight influenced larval weight more than maternal weight. Heritability of larval weight was estimated at 12.8% (maternal) and 13.2% (paternal), suggesting potential for genetic selection. Findings of the present study suggest that a preference towards large females is present. Furthermore, larger beetles increased larval yield by producing heavier individual larvae, thereby enhancing the efficiency of TM farming.

Nosema ceranae, a widespread fungal pathogen affecting honey bees (Apis spp.), may pose health risks to commercial bumble bees through shared foraging behaviors, particularly via pollen from Apis mellifera. This study investigated the impact of N. ceranae infection on commercial Bombus eximius colonies in Taiwan. Bumble bees were inoculated with low, medium, and high spore concentrations (5 × 104, 105, and 106 spores/10 μl), and infection rates, spore distribution, retention time, and immune responses were assessed. Increasing spore concentration had little effect on adult infection (10.0%) or survival rates (90.0%). N. ceranae was detectable in the digestive tract, with distinct patterns in the midgut and hindgut, as well as in fecal samples from 3 to 72 h post-inoculation. Immune gene analysis revealed significant upregulation of cellular immunity-related genes, such as hemomucin (1.67-fold) and vitellogenin (3.11-fold). Infected colonies consumed more pollen and sugar water, likely due to immune-driven food intake and stress responses. The low infection rates in commercial colonies suggest potential resistance mechanisms, requiring further investigation.

Background: Despite advances in education and resuscitation science, adult cardiac arrest survival rates remain suboptimal. The American Heart Association® states that training programs and educational efficiency are key to improving these rates. However, various studies show significant skill deterioration even weeks after training. Few studies have focused on cross-sectional evaluations of both basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) skills among professionals, and there are no such studies in Chile. Hypothesis: Healthcare professionals demonstrate poor retention of advanced life support skills at 12 weeks post-training. Objective: To assess the retention of practical and cognitive skills 12 weeks after a theoretical-practical cardiovascular advanced life support training program based on clinical simulation, in healthcare professionals from five public hospitals in Chile. Methods: Seventy-three professionals from five public hospitals in a region of Chile participated in a theoretical-practical training program in adult advanced life support. A three-month follow-up was conducted to compare practical and cognitive skills in advanced life support. Results: After follow-up, significant deterioration in basic life support skills was observed, with the pass rate decreasing from 91.3% to 30.1% (Friedman’s X 2 =42.32; p&lt;0.001). Airway management skills also decreased, from 94.5% to 27.4% (Friedman’s X 2 =49.00; p&lt;0.001). MEGACODE advanced life support skills decreased from 73.8% to 12.3% (Friedman’s X 2 =45.00; p&lt;0.001), and cognitive skills decreased from 52.5% to 19.2% (Friedman’s X 2 =2320.00; p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The results reflect a significant deterioration in basic life support, airway management, MEGACODE advanced life support, and cognitive skills over time. These findings emphasize the need for continuous interventions and ongoing training programs to maintain and improve competencies in these essential emergency care skills. The decline in skills highlights the importance of sustainable training strategies and periodic evaluations to ensure quality and effective care in critical situations. Improving these competencies is crucial for optimizing survival rates in cardiac arrest situations, where prompt and effective intervention can make a significant difference.

Toxicity of reduced dose versus standard dose pegaspargase in adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Sickle cell disease survival analysis at a large United States southern comprehensive sickle cell disease center: 1995 - 2022

The effects of exogenous testosterone and facial attractiveness on men's altruistic punishment behavior.