Recent History Research Articles

Real-World Risk of Severe Cytopenias in Multiple Myeloma Patients Sequentially Treated with Immunomodulatory Drugs.

Most multiple myeloma (MM) patients experience cytopenias, likely driven by both disease and treatment-related factors. Immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs), which form the backbone of most anti-myeloma regimens, are known to cause higher grade cytopenias. In this context, the impact of sequential IMiD treatments on cytopenia risk is unknown. We evaluated the cumulative risks of severe cytopenias following second line of therapy (LOT) initiation in 5573 MM patients in the Flatiron Health database. Patients for whom both LOTs 1 and 2 contained IMiDs were considered "sequentially exposed"; those for whom neither contained IMiDs were "never exposed." For the neutropenia outcome, compared to the never exposed, the sequentially exposed had the highest 1-year risk (risk difference [RD] 12%), followed by those only recently exposed during LOT 2 (RD 8%), then by those with only past exposure during LOT 1 (RD 5%). A similar pattern was observed for leukopenia, but no meaningful differences were observed for anemia or thrombocytopenia. The associations between sequential exposure, versus never, with neutropenia and leukopenia were even stronger among those with a recent cytopenia history. Results suggest that sequential exposure to IMiDs is a risk factor for higher grade cytopenias. These findings have profound clinical implications in choosing newer LOTs with potential risks of cytopenia.

The Qualitative Historical Origins of Mad Studies in Word and Deed, 1436–1914

Periodically from the 15th to early 20th centuries, mad people left written accounts of their experiences. Originally written by upper- and middle-class White authors who had both the money and literacy skills to record their thoughts, since the late 19th century, the diversity of mad people’s writings has increased to reflect more representative experiences regarding class, gender and, to a lesser extent, race and disability. The origins of what is now called “Mad Studies” can be found among writers discussed here, though long before such a field came to formally exist. From the 18th century, there were also individuals and organized groups who challenged abusive practices and attitudes toward mad people, whose efforts are precursors to recent activist histories. This article reflects on how Mad Studies is the direct beneficiary of centuries of critical analyses and activism by mad people long before contemporary times.

An Exploration of Investment Strategies within Zambia's National Pension Scheme Authority

As a critical state-owned enterprise administering billions in retirement assets, NAPSA's investment governance has substantial fiscal and welfare implications for Zambia. Investment strategies in government institutions involve a systematic and comprehensive approach to managing public funds for various purposes, such as infrastructure development, pension fund assets, and bond proceeds. However, there has been little scholarly investigation into the real- world dynamics, drivers, and performance impacts of NAPSA's investment strategies, policy decisions over its recent history. This study aimed to bridge that knowledge gap through qualitative analysis of NAPSA's investment strategy formulation, risk management approaches, implementation processes, and financial results over the past two decades. The primary instruments for data collection in this study were semi-structured interviews and focus groups, both conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. The data analysis for this study was undertaken using thematic analysis. This approach was instrumental in interpreting the data collected from the interviews and focus groups. Furthermore, qualitative documents like reports provided corroborating context. Together these primary data resources facilitated nuanced analysis around the multi-layered drivers and impacts influencing NAPSA’s investment governance – aligning techniques tightly with exploratory research goals seeking elucidations to inform potential policy enhancements. The findings revealed that NAPSA maintained a diversified investment portfolio across various asset classes. Formalization of developmental impact assessment measures and the strengthening of specialized analytical competencies are amongst the recommendations. These steps are important for NAPSA to continue effectively managing its substantial assets in a manner that supports both the welfare of its pensioners and the broader economic interests of Zambia.

Structural and social changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on engagement in substance use disorder treatment services: a qualitative study among people with a recent history of injection drug use in Baltimore, Maryland

BackgroundSubstance use disorder treatment and recovery support services are critical for achieving and maintaining recovery. There are limited data on how structural and social changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted individual-level experiences with substance use disorder treatment-related services among community-based samples of people who inject drugs.MethodsPeople with a recent history of injection drug use who were enrolled in the community-based AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience study in Baltimore, Maryland participated in a one-time, semi-structured interview between July 2021 and February 2022 about their experiences living through the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 28). An iterative inductive coding process was used to identify themes describing how structural and social changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected participants’ experiences with substance use disorder treatment-related services.ResultsThe median age of participants was 54 years (range = 24–73); 10 (36%) participants were female, 16 (57%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 8 (29%) were living with HIV. We identified several structural and social changes due the pandemic that acted as barriers and facilitators to individual-level engagement in treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recovery support services (e.g., support group meetings). New take-home methadone flexibility policies temporarily facilitated engagement in MOUD treatment, but other pre-existing rigid policies and practices (e.g., zero-tolerance) were counteracting barriers. Changes in the illicit drug market were both a facilitator and barrier to MOUD treatment. Decreased availability and pandemic-related adaptations to in-person services were a barrier to recovery support services. While telehealth expansion facilitated engagement in recovery support group meetings for some participants, other participants faced digital and technological barriers. These changes in service provision also led to diminished perceived quality of both virtual and in-person recovery support group meetings. However, a facilitator of recovery support was increased accessibility of individual service providers (e.g., counselors and Sponsors).ConclusionsStructural and social changes across several socioecological levels created new barriers and facilitators of individual-level engagement in substance use disorder treatment-related services. Multilevel interventions are needed to improve access to and engagement in high-quality substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services among people who inject drugs.

Physical properties and organic carbon in no-tilled agricultural systems in silty Pampas soils of Argentina

Context Under continuous long-term no-till farming, many silty soils develop platey and massive compacted structures in topsoil, ascribed to low crop diversification and intense agricultural traffic. Aims We hypothesise that agricultural scenarios of greater diversification and cropping intensity should increase carbon (C) inputs and total and particulate organic C, resulting in the disappearance of these platey and massive compacted structures and soil compaction. Methods The hypothesis was tested in 55 selected production fields (lots or macro-plots of trials with a cultivated area greater than 15 ha) and five non-cultivated sites across the Rolling Pampas of Argentina. The whole area was covered by fine, illitic, thermal, silty loams (Typic Argiudolls, US Soil Taxonomy; Typic Phaeozems, FAO Soil Map). Based on estimations of the crop intensity index (CII; proportion of days in the year with active crop growth) and recent agricultural history of crop sequences, sampled fields were grouped into five categories: soybean (Glycine max) monoculture (CII < 0.45; mean CII = 0.39); low intensity cropping sequence (CII = 0.45–0.60; mean CII = 0.50); high intensity cropping sequence (CII = 0.60–0.80; mean CII = 0.66); pastures for hay bale production (CII = 1.0); and quasi-pristine situations (areas with non-implanted and non-grazed grass vegetation or with negligible stocking rate, CII = 1.0). Key results Total C inputs to soil varied within ~1400–7800 kg C ha−1 year−1 and were significantly and positively related to crop intensity index (P < 0.0001, r = 0.83). The highest (P < 0.05) soil organic C levels were observed in the first 0.05 m of soil and quasi-pristine conditions (even higher than under pasture), and the lowest (P < 0.05) under soybean monoculture. In the 0.05–0.20 m soil layer, quasi-pristine conditions had significantly (P < 0.05) higher soil organic C levels; the other situations did not differ. Soil organic C and particulate organic C levels (0–0.05 m layer) were related to both CII and annual C input. Platey structures and clods >0.1 m (0–0.2 m layer) were negatively related to CII (r = −0.59 and −0.45, respectively; P < 0.0001) and C inputs from crops (r = −0.60 and −0.29, respectively; P < 0.01). Nevertheless, this did not result in soil compaction alleviation, as shown by soil bulk density, maximum penetration resistance and water infiltration variations. About 92% of the samples with soil bulk density above the threshold (1.35 Mg m−3), and about 32% of the total records, presented levels of maximum penetration resistance, aeration porosity and/or water infiltration beyond the values suggested as critical. Conclusions Although soil organic C in topsoil varied as hypothesised, the studied soil physical properties did not. This partially rejects our hypothesis. Implications This study underscores the intricate interplay between crop intensity, SOC enhancement, soil structure improvement and the persistent challenge of subsoil compaction.

Recent collisional history of (65803) Didymos

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART, NASA) spacecraft revealed that the primary of the (65803) Didymos near-Earth asteroid (NEA) binary system is not exactly the expected spinning top shape observed for other km-size asteroids. Ground based radar observations predicted that such shape was compatible with the uncertainty along the direction of the asteroid spin axis. Indeed, Didymos shows crater and landslide features, and evidence for boulder motion at low equatorial latitudes. Altogether, the primary seems to have undergone sudden structural failure in its recent history, which may even result in the formation of the secondary. The high eccentricity of Didymos sets its aphelion distance inside the inner main belt, where it spends more than 1/3 of its orbital period and it may undergo many more collisions than in the NEA region. In this work, we investigate the collisional environment of this asteroid and estimate the probability of collision with multi-size potential impactors. We analyze the possibility that such impacts produced the surface features observed on Didymos by comparing collisional intervals with estimated times for surface destabilization by the Yarkovsky-O’Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) effect. We find that collisional effects dominate over potential local or global deformation due to YORP spin up.

Ideas and perspectives: Human impacts alter the marine fossil record

Abstract. The youngest fossil record is a crucial source of data documenting the recent history of marine ecosystems and their long-term alteration by humans. However, human activities that reshape communities and habitats also alter sedimentary and biological processes that control the formation of the sedimentary archives recording those impacts. These diverse physical, geochemical, and biological disturbances include changes in sediment fluxes due to the alteration of alluvial and coastal landscapes, seabed disturbance by bottom trawling and ship traffic, ocean acidification and deoxygenation, removal of native species, and introduction of invasive ecosystem engineers. These novel processes modify sedimentation rates, the depth and intensity of sediment mixing, the pore-water saturation state, and the preservation potential of skeletal remains – the parameters controlling the completeness and spatiotemporal resolution of the fossil record. We argue that humans have become a major force transforming the nature of the marine fossil record in ways that can both impede and improve our ability to reconstruct past ecological and climate dynamics. A better understanding of the feedback between human impacts on ecosystem processes and their preservation in the marine fossil record offers new research opportunities and novel tools for interpreting geohistorical archives of the ongoing anthropogenic transformation of the coastal ocean.

Blood pressure responses to handgrip exercise but not apnea or mental stress are enhanced in women with a recent history of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a risk factor for future cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear, limiting effective prevention strategies. Blood pressure responses to acute stimuli may reveal cardiovascular dysfunction not apparent at rest, identifying individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk. Therefore, we compared blood pressure responsiveness to acute stimuli between previously preeclamptic (PPE) women (34±5yr, 13±6 months postpartum) and women following healthy pregnancies (CTRL; 29±3yr, 15±4 months postpartum). Blood pressure (finger photoplethysmography calibrated to manual sphygmomanometry-derived values; PPE: n=12, CTRL: n=12) was assessed during end-expiratory apnea, mental stress, and isometric handgrip exercise protocols. Integrated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was assessed in a subset of participants (peroneal nerve microneurography; PPE: n=6, CTRL: n=8). Across all protocols, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in PPE than CTRL (main effects of group all P<0.05). Peak changes in SBP were stressor-specific: peak increases in SBP were not different between PPE and CTRL during apnea (+8±6 vs. +6±5mmHg, P=0.32) or mental stress (+9±5 vs. +4±7mmHg, P=0.06). However, peak exercise-induced increases in SBP were greater in PPE than CTRL (+11±5 vs. +7±7mmHg, P=0.04). MSNA was higher in PPE than CTRL across all protocols (main effects of group all P<0.05), and increases in peak MSNA were greater in PPE than CTRL during apnea (+44±6 vs. +27±14burst/100hb, P=0.04) and exercise (+25±8 vs. +13±11burst/100hb, P=0.01) but not different between groups during mental stress (+2±3 vs. 0±5burst/100hb, P=0.41). Exaggerated pressor and sympathetic responses to certain stimuli may contribute to the elevated long-term risk for cardiovascular disease in PPE.

The recent star formation histories of nearby galaxies on resolved scales

Abstract Star formation histories (SFHs) of galaxies are affected by a variety of factors, both external (field vs. cluster/group) and internal (presence of a bar and AGN, morphological type). In this work, we extend our previous study and apply the $\langle SFR_{\rm {5}} \rangle \big / \langle SFR_{\rm {200}} \rangle$ metric to a sample of eleven nearby galaxies with MUSE observations. Based on a combination of Hα and UV photometry, $\langle SFR_{\rm {5}} \rangle \big / \langle SFR_{\rm {200}} \rangle$ is sensitive to star formation timescales of ∼5–200 Myr and therefore measures the present-day rate of change in the star formation rate, dSFR/dt. Within this limited galaxy sample, we do not observe systematic variations between the global value of $\langle SFR_{\rm {5}} \rangle \big / \langle SFR_{\rm {200}} \rangle$ and the presence of an active galactic nucleus, stellar bar, nor with group or cluster membership. Within some of the individual galaxies, we however observe significant differences in $\langle SFR_{\rm {5}} \rangle \big / \langle SFR_{\rm {200}} \rangle$ between the arm and interarm regions. In half of the galaxies, the recent SFH of both arm and interarm regions has been very similar. However, in the galaxies with higher bulge-to-total light ratios and earlier morphological type, the SFR is declining more rapidly in the interarm regions. This decline in SFR is not a result of low molecular gas surface density or a decrease in the star formation efficiency, implying that other factors are responsible for this SFR decrease.

Resolving the Mechanical and Radiative Feedback in J1044+0353 with Keck Cosmic Web Imager Spectral Mapping

We present integral field spectroscopy toward and around J1044+0353, a rapidly growing, low-metallicity galaxy that produces extreme [O iii] line emission. A new map of the O32 flux ratio reveals a density-bounded ionization cone emerging from the starburst. The interaction of the hydrogen-ionizing radiation, produced by the very young starburst, with a cavity previously carved out by a galactic outflow, whose apex lies well outside the starburst region, determines the pathway for global Lyman continuum (LyC) escape. In the region within a few hundred parsecs of the young starburst, we demonstrate that superbubble breakthrough and blowout contribute distinct components to the [O iii] line profile: broad and very broad emission line wings, respectively. We draw attention to the large [O iii] luminosity of the broad component and argue that this emission comes from photoionized, superbubble shells rather than a galactic wind as is often assumed. The spatially resolved He ii λ4686 nebula appears to be photoionized by young star clusters. Stellar wind emission from these stars is likely the source of line wings detected on the He ii line profile. This broader He ii component indicates slow stellar winds, consistent with an increase in stellar rotation (and a decrease in effective escape speed) at the metallicity of J1044+0353. At least in J1044+0353, the recent star formation history plays a critical role in generating a global pathway for LyC escape, and the anisotropic escape would likely be missed by direct observations of the LyC.

Bad dog, smart dog: spontaneous discrimination of quantities in shelter dogs

Dogs’ co-domestication led to a series of modifications in their behaviour and cognition. Yet, how recent evolutionary history also interacts with developmental and experiential factors is often neglected. Here we tested shelter dogs in a two-alternatives free-choice task between different food quantities. Shelter dogs represent a heterogeneous population with high inter-individual variability, and we hypothesised that we could observe differences in cognitive performance between individuals depending on their attitude towards humans. Overall, we found that dogs preferred to approach the larger set of food (emmeans = 6.62. SE = 0.24, t = 28.17, p < 0.0001). However, consistently with our initial hypothesis, we observed that dogs that were evaluated as ‘less sociable’ by the keepers of the shelter succeeded already on their first trial (P(larger set) = 0.81, SE = 0.1, z = 2.31, p = 0.02), similar to what was observed in wolves and roaming dogs. Vice-versa, individuals that were evaluated as ‘highly sociable’ behaved at chance on the first trial and begun selecting the larger set only after a first interaction with the experimental setting (P(larger set) = 0.51, SE = 0.11, z = -0.7, p = 0.94), thus behaving alike to pet dogs. We discuss our results from both an experimental perspective, as in designing studies that account for multifaceted factors to reach a better understanding of cognition and behaviour in the Canis familiaris, and an applicative perspective, as in adding on current practices to facilitate the difficult process of inclusion of dogs in shelters, and possibly adoption.

Pharmacist intervention is associated with fewer serious falls over 3 months among older fallers at a day hospital: A quasi-experimental study

ObjectivesSome drugs increase the risk of falls, including serious falls. The objective of this quasi-experimental study was to determine whether the intervention of a clinical pharmacist among older outpatients receiving a multifactorial fall prevention program at a geriatric day hospital dedicated to older patients with a recent history of falls was effective in preventing serious falls over a 3-month follow-up, compared with usual care. Study designQuasi-experimental study in 296 consecutive older outpatients, including 85 with pharmacist intervention (the intervention group) and 148 without (the control group). Main outcome measuresThe main outcome was the occurrence of at least one serious fall within 3 months of follow-up. Covariates included age, sex, body mass index, grip strength, history of falls, Mini-Mental State Examination score, use of ≥3 drugs associated with risk of falls, frailty, and disability. ResultsFewer participants in the intervention group experienced at least one serious fall than in the control group (5 (5.9 %) versus 23 (15.5 %), P = 0.029), which persisted after adjustment for potential confounding factors (OR = 0.30 [95CI:0.11–0.84], P = 0.022). No significant effect was found on the indicence of all falls. Pharmacist intervention allowed more frequent therapeutic optimizations of antithrombotics (OR = 3.69 [95CI: 1.66–8.20]), proton pump inhibitors (OR = 3.34 [95CI: 1.31–8.50]), benzodiazepines (OR = 3.15 [95CI: 1.06–9.36]) and antidepressants (OR = 3.87 [95CI: 1.21–12.35]). ConclusionsAmong older fallers receiving a multifactorial fall prevention program at a day hospital, a clinical pharmacist intervention was associated with fewer incident serious falls over 3 months of follow-up.

The Impact of Covid-19 on the Aviation Industry in Air Transportation

The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed an unprecedented upheaval in the aviation industry, marking one of the most significant disruptions in recent history. From March 2020 to May 2020, the industry experienced an unimaginable reduction in flight numbers, setting off a tumultuous journey of adaptation and recovery. Throughout this crisis, a plethora of scientific studies have emerged, examining both the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic on aviation and vice versa. This paper presents a comprehensive review of these impacts within the context of recent literature. Drawing from nearly 200 meticulously curated papers published in 2021/2022, we have categorized them into eight distinct themes: airlines, airports, passengers, workforce, markets, contagion, sustainability, and economics. Through a systematic analysis, we distill the essence of the findings, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges and opportunities faced by the aviation industry in the wake of the pandemic. Furthermore, we outline a set of future research directions and policy considerations essential for fostering a pandemic-resilient aviation ecosystem. As the industry navigates through these unprecedented times, this research serves as a valuable compass, guiding stakeholders towards informed decision-making and sustainable recovery strategies.

Coexistence of microfilaria and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis: a rare case report

Filariasis is a common health problem in tropical countries of Southeast Asia. The commonest site of involvement is the lymphatic system where the adult worms can remain viable for long periods. Though the patients can remain asymptomatic, the clinical presentation with hydrocele, fever, localised swelling and/or lymphedema are commonly seen. Localization of the parasite at various other sites like breast, lungs, and thyroid have been uncommonly described. We report a case of an elderly female who presented with a large anterior neck mass associated with a recent history of change in voice. Radiological investigations revealed a soft tissue mass in the neck along with multiple lesions in the thyroid which were suspicious of malignancy. Fine needle aspiration cytology, however, revealed microfilariae coexisting with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. This case highlights the importance of critical screening of cytology smears to identify the parasites at unusual locations. A correct diagnosis on a simple and inexpensive investigation like fine needle aspiration cytology can help in administering appropriate therapy at the earliest and avoiding unnecessary interventions.

Resilience of Terraced Landscapes to Human and Natural Impacts: A GIS-Based Reconstruction of Land Use Evolution in a Mediterranean Mountain Valley

Terraced historical landscapes have multiple functions in mountain land, limiting erosion, enabling agricultural production and constituting cultural heritage. Currently, they are largely abandoned in Mediterranean regions and facing the ongoing impacts of climate change. Our aim is to reconstruct the evolution of land use on the terraces in order to test the hypothesis of the resilience of these landscapes and their age in recent history (17th–21st century). To achieve this, we used various current and archive spatial datasets and GIS knowledge to detect and map terraces and the changes in land use. We tested this hypothesis in a territory impacted by a recent extreme event, facing the challenge of its reconstruction. Our main outcome showed that the optimal use of the terraces corresponded to the demographic optimum of the mid-19th century, and they were gradually abandoned after the Second World War, with significant differences between Mediterranean and mountain lands. Despite this evolution, the terraces persisted and withstood an extreme event, validating our resilience hypothesis and opening avenues for the revitalization of this territory based on this heritage. These findings are drawing perspectives for the future of terraced landscapes in Mediterranean mountains in the context of climate change.

Memory activism in the Republic of Moldova: Last address and Stolpersteine projects

Drawing on the threefold categorisation of memory as antagonistic, cosmopolitan and agonistic, proposed by Anna Cento Bull and Hans Hansen, the article examines contemporary memory activism in the Republic of Moldova and how it contributes to creating historical narratives. Through an analysis of two memory initiatives, namely ‘The Last Address’ and ‘Stolpersteine’, designed to memorialise victims of Soviet repression and atrocities committed by the Romanian and Nazi German forces, respectively, the article uncovers the many challenges facing memory activists in Moldova where there is limited openness about these periods in recent history. Instead, different versions of the past and suppression of painful truths are subservient to contemporary political agendas.

Using Portuguese BRCA pathogenic variation as a model to study the impact of human admixture on human health

BackgroundAdmixture occurs between different ethnic human populations. The global colonization in recent centuries by Europeans led to the most significant admixture in human history. While admixture may enhance genetic diversity for better fitness, it may also impact on human health by transmitting genetic variants for disease susceptibility in the admixture population. The admixture by Portuguese global exploration initiated in the 15th century has reached over 20 million of Portuguese-heritage population worldwide. It provides a valuable model to study the impact of admixture on human health. BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) are two of the important tumor suppressor genes. The pathogenic variation (PV) in BRCA is well determined to cause high risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Tracing the distribution of Portuguese BRCA PV in Portuguese-heritage population will help to understand the impact of admixture on cancer susceptibility in modern humans. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of the Portuguese-originated BRCA variation in Brazilian population, which has high degree Portuguese-heritage.MethodsBy comprehensive data mining, standardization and annotation, we generated a Portuguese-derived BRCA variation dataset and a Brazilian-derived BRCA variation dataset. We compared the two BRCA variation datasets to identify the BRCA variants shared between the two populations.ResultsThe Portuguese-derived BRCA variation dataset consists of 220 BRCA variants including 78 PVs from 11,482 Portuguese cancer patients, 93 (42.2%) in BRCA1 and 127 (57.7%) in BRCA2. Of the 556 Portuguese BRCA PV carriers carrying the 78 PVs, 331 (59.5%) carried the three Portuguese-BRCA founder PVs of BRCA1 c.2037delinsCC, BRCA1 c.3331_3334del and BRCA2 c.156_157insAlu. The Brazilian-derived BRCA variation dataset consists of 255 BRCA PVs from 7,711 cancer patients, 136 (53.3%) in BRCA1 and 119 (46.6%) in BRCA2. We developed an open database named dbBRCA-Portuguese (https://genemutation.fhs.um.edu.mo/dbbrca-portuguese/) and an open database named dbBRCA-Brazilian (https://genemutation.fhs.um.edu.mo/dbbrca-brazilian) to host the BRCA variation data from Portuguese and Brazilian populations. We compared the BRCA PV datasets between Portuguese and Brazilian populations, and identified 29 Portuguese-specific BRCA PVs shared between Portuguese and Brazilian populations, 14 in BRCA1 including the Portuguese founder BRCA1 c.3331_3334del and BRCA1 c.2037delinsCC, and 15 in BRCA2 including the Portuguese founder BRCA2 c.156_157insAlu. Searching the 78 Portuguese BRCA PVs in over 5,000 ancient human genomes identified evolution origin for only 8 PVs in Europeans dated between 37,470 and 3,818 years before present, confirming the Portuguese-specificity of Portuguese BRCA PVs; comparing the 78 Portuguese BRCA PVs Portuguese, 255 Brazilian BRCA PVs, and 134 African BRCA PVs showed little overlapping, ruling out the possibility that the BRCA PVs shared between Portuguese and Brazilian may also be contributed by African.ConclusionOur study provides evidence that the admixture in recent human history contributed to cancer susceptibility in modern humans.

Recent history and future trends in the study of insect behavior in North America

Abstract We examine the recent history and future trends in the field of insect behavior in North America. This project stemmed from participation in a section symposium at a Joint Meeting of the Entomological Societies of America (ESA), Canada (ESC), and British Columbia (ESBC) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 2022. Each participating team in the symposium was asked to address 3 questions about their subdiscipline: (i) How has your subdiscipline changed in the last 15 yr? (ii) How will your subdiscipline change as a discipline over the next 15 yr? (iii) What can ESA and the Plant-Insect Ecosystem section (P-IE) do to help members who study your subdiscipline and improve the understanding of the subdiscipline? To address the first question, we used data from 2008 to 2022 on presentations given at ESA meetings, literature searches, and funding databases. To predict changes in the discipline of insect behavior in the future, we examined data pertaining to student participation in the field and educational opportunities in insect behavior. Our main findings are that insect behavior is an integral part of entomological research with an important future role to play in understanding insect biology under climate change. We provide multiple lines of evidence illustrating the importance of insect behavior in multidisciplinary research across a variety of scientific fields. We conclude by answering the third question with suggestions for the promotion of insect behavior research at annual ESA meetings and for gathering more information to further understand the importance of the subdiscipline of insect behavior.

E-WASTE FACILITY LOCATOR

Integrated mobile application and website offer a holistic e-waste management solution with multilingual, chatbot-driven assistance. Users can efficiently locate the nearest e-waste facility using path optimization and, upon device input, instantly view the rewards they'll receive post-disposal, which may include cryptocurrency, vouchers, NFTs, or cashback points, based on valuable materials recovered. To enhance user awareness, our platform delivers educational pop-ups related to users' recent search history, educating them about harmful and valuable components in their old devices. Furthermore, users can utilize AI and ML for quick assessments by uploading device pictures. In the spirit of sustainability, the platform allows users to not only dispose of their old devices but also purchase materials recovered from e-waste disposal. We are committed to cost-effective development, ensuring an economical yet environmentally conscious service that encompasses both a mobile app and website.

Race, Ethnicity, and Other Barriers to Access Dental Care During Pregnancy.

Historically, women of color showed poorer oral health and lower dental service utilization in the USA. These barriers to dental care during pregnancy included dental coverage, primary language, dental provider availability, safety concerns, affordability of dental care, and perceived oral health benefits during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to examine whether race/ethnicity modified the associations between barriers to accessing dental care and dental service utilization during pregnancy. This cross-sectional study sample included 62,189 women aged 20 and older with a recent birth history in 21 states from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 2016 to 2019. We introduced a race/ethnicity by barrier interaction term to our multiple logistic regression models. After adjusting for other confounders, dental insurance during pregnancy and perceived oral health benefits were associated with 4.0- and 5.6-fold higher odds, respectively, of dental service utilization during pregnancy. Statistically significant effect modification by race/ethnicity was observed in crude and adjusted analyses of the relationship between dental service utilization for all barriers included in the interaction analyses with all adjusted p-values < 0.001. The interaction analysis found that racial/ethnic disparity in visiting dentists during pregnancy was significant among women who reported these dental barriers. In contrast, such racial/ethnic disparity was substantially attenuated among women who did not report such barriers. The observed racial/ethnic disparities could be mitigated by such supporting mechanisms: dental coverage, provider availability and willingness to treat pregnant women, oral health education on the safety of dental care during pregnancy, and affordable dental care costs.