Response Measures Research Articles

Molecular effects of clinically relevant chemotherapeutic agents on choline phospholipid metabolism in triple negative breast cancer cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal breast cancer subtype, leading to poor patient outcomes despite aggressive treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. There are currently no clinical tests available which measure early on whether TNBC patients respond to the selected chemotherapy treatment regimen. The magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-detected total choline (tCho) signal was shown to be a promising biomarker for assessing the response to chemotherapy treatment early on, as breast tumor tCho decreases after the first treatment cycle in patients who respond to chemotherapy cocktails. We sought to further investigate these clinical observations at the molecular level by combining metabolic and transcriptomic studies in two human TNBC cell lines treated with six different chemotherapeutic agents. Overall, our findings show that the glycerophosphocholine-to-phosphocholine ratio (GPC/PC) was a more sensitive and more broadly applicable measure of TNBC response to various chemotherapeutic agents than tCho. Specific chemotherapeutic drugs, including 5-fluorouracil and melphalan, resulted in the most significant effects on choline phospholipid metabolism, while other drugs did not significantly alter choline phospholipid metabolism. Overall, several of the six tested chemotherapeutic drugs mainly affected the expression levels of phosphatidylcholine (PtdC)-specific phospholipases and lysophospholipases, leading to the observed GPC/PC and tCho changes following treatment with the chemotherapeutic agents that altered choline phospholipid metabolism. The presented metabolic and transcriptomic findings support that the GPC/PC ratio and PtdC-phospholipases and -lysophospholipases could be further developed for assessing the response to chemotherapy treatment in TNBC patients. Statement of Significance: We show that the glycerophosphocholine-to-phosphocholine ratio and phosphatidylcholine-specific-phospholipases and -lysophospholipases are reliable markers for assessing the response to several chemotherapeutic agents, which could help with selecting correct treatments for TNBC patients.

Mainshock-Aftershock Ground Motion Sequences Selection and its Implication on Bridge Seismic Fragility

ABSTRACT In seismic-prone regions, the evaluation of structural performance of bridges under mainshock-aftershock ground motion sequences is imperative for ensuring their safety and facilitating effective response measures. However, the limited availability of real-recorded mainshock-aftershock ground motion sequences for region-specific condition results in the adoption of artificially generated sequences for seismic fragility assessment of bridges. This study presents a new approach for the artificial generation of ground motion sequences by quantifying the relationship between parameters of real-recorded mainshock-aftershock sequences, while also considering regional seismicity. The proposed framework is employed to obtain a suite of region-specific mainshock-aftershock sequences for the Himalayan region, and is subsequently applied to a case-study bridge for vulnerability assessment. An experimentally validated bridge numerical model is developed to simulate the degradation caused by multiple cyclic loadings of mainshock-aftershock sequences. An optimal engineering demand parameter is identified to capture the cumulative damage under mainshock-aftershock sequences and seismic fragility curves are developed using incremental dynamic analysis-based approach. Results reveal a higher seismic fragility under ground motion sequences compared to mainshocks alone, with similar trends observed across different bridge geometries. Notably, the finding indicates a close match between the seismic fragility curves developed using mainshock-aftershock sequences selected through the proposed framework and those derived using real-recorded sequences.

Development of a Subnational Health Security Capacities Assessment Tool: Lessons From Nigeria and Implications for the Implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy.

The Joint External Evaluation tool is a World Health Organization-recommended method for evaluating countries' capacities under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). It encompasses a national preparedness assessment process for public health threats and offers a structured framework for planning and implementing effective response measures. A tailored approach is necessary for Nigeria's federated system of government, in which most constitutional requirements for public health and associated issues are decentralized to the state level. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) developed an assessment tool to identify state-level health security gaps and support the development of improvement plans. With input from state and national public health leaders and legal experts, a legislative evaluation was conducted to determine specific IHR activities that could be implemented within the state's legal framework to accelerate the implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy and IHR. The resulting assessment instrument was piloted in Kano, Enugu, and Kebbi states, followed by a consensus meeting to identify additional areas for improvement. The revised tool contains 14 technical areas and 35 indicators tailored to implementing improvement plans. By recognizing the unique characteristics of subnational entities and their implications for pandemic preparedness, the tool provides an innovative approach to health security for countries with multilayered governance structures or geographic diversity. Conducting a subnational health security assessment is a crucial step in ensuring preparedness for public health threats and enhancing health security in Nigeria's federated system of government.

Proactive Security for the Industrial IoT Networks in the AI Era: A Framework for Continuous Threat Exposure Management

This article investigates the convergence of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI), exploring the evolving landscape of AI-powered attacks and the critical need for proactive security measures. To mitigate these risks, this paper proposes a multi-faceted security approach that combines traditional security techniques with AI-driven solutions. Focusing on Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) and Attack Surface Management (ASM), and emphasizing real-time threat detection, automated response mechanisms, and a robust human-AI collaboration model, the study explores a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive security measures in response to the evolving cyber threats facing modern industrial environments. Through an in-depth analysis of successful security implementations across diverse industrial sectors, this research demonstrates the efficacy of integrating AI-driven security measures with existing infrastructure. By proactively addressing these challenges, organizations can harness the power of AI to safeguard their digital assets and ensure the integrity of their operations.

Risk analysis of mechanical cross passage construction using work breakdown and fault tree

A subway cross passage is a connecting aisle between main tunnels. Owing to its narrow construction site, it is difficult to implement safety measures, and intensive construction techniques are often required. With the development of technology, the mechanical cross-passage technology has emerged. To address the risk problem of mechanical cross-passage construction, the construction process was systematically decomposed based on the work breakdown structure (WBS), and a fault tree of each construction process was established for qualitative analysis. Various factors leading to construction risks have been identified, such as head sinking of the excavation machine, spiral machine gushing, excavation deviation from axis, excavation surface soil instability, and ground deformation, and corresponding risk response measures have been proposed. The targeted measures were applied to the mechanical construction of Qingdao Subway Line 8, and the successful completion of the cross-passage verified the applicability of the risk analysis and the effectiveness of the response measures.

Catastrophic Severe Injuries and Medical Conditions in Girls' and Women's Softball: An 8-Year Epidemiologic Study.

Research on catastrophic injuries and medical conditions among majority girls' and women's sports are underrepresented. In this study, we describe the incidence, characteristics, and mechanisms of severe softball injuries/medical conditions between 2014 and 2021. Catastrophic injury and illness patterns will be observed with a higher incidence rate at the collegiate level. Descriptive epidemiologic study. Level 3. Events from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR) and National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) were included. NCCSIR included catastrophic injuries during participation in high school (HS) or college sponsored girls'/women's softball resulting in death, temporary or permanent disability, or life-threatening injury. NEISS included severe girls'/women's softball injuries (product code 5034) among 13- to 17- and 18- to 24-year-olds among severe dispositions. National estimates were derived using a weighted sample for NEISS. Counts (%) and incidence rates (IR) per 100,000 participants overall and by age level, injury/medical event, and outcome were reported. NCCSIR captured 0.3 events per 100,000 participants (95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.5), and incidence was higher in college (IR, 2.5; 0.9-6.6) compared with HS (IR, 0.1; 0.1-0.4). Sudden cardiac arrest was the most common event (5, 63%), and 2 (25%) fatalities were reported. NEISS captured 10.2 events per 100,000 participants (9.7-10.8). Incidence was higher in 18- to 24-year-olds (IR, 8.9; 8.3-9.6) compared with 13- to 17-year-olds (IR, 4.2; 3.8-4.6), and no fatalities were captured. Collegiate and 18- to 24-year-old athletes demonstrated a higher incidence of severe injuries than HS and 13- to 17-year-old athletes across both surveillance systems. NEISS captured a higher incidence of catastrophic events than NCCSIR. NCCSIR observed more cardiac events, whereas NEISS observed more head/face injuries. Continued monitoring of severe injuries and medical events in softball is necessary to support response and prevention measures.

Time-out placements in residential care: Towards a better understanding of restrictive measures in response to the behavioral manifestations of vulnerable youths Paper submitted to Child Protection and Practice

Time-out placements in residential care: Towards a better understanding of restrictive measures in response to the behavioral manifestations of vulnerable youths Paper submitted to Child Protection and Practice

Spatial and temporal dependence in distribution‐based evaluation of CMIP6 daily maximum temperatures

AbstractClimate models are increasingly used to derive localised, specific information to guide adaptation to climate change. Model projections of future scenarios are conferred credibility by evaluating model skill in reproducing large‐scale properties of the observed climate system. Model evaluation at fine spatial and temporal scales and for rare extreme events is critical for provision of reliable adaptation‐relevant information, but may be challenging given significant internal variability and limited observed data in this setting. Comparing distributions of physical variables from historical simulations of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project models against observed distributions provides a comprehensive, concise and physically‐justified skill measure. Calculating divergence between distributions requires aggregation of data spatially or temporally. The spatial and temporal scales at which a divergence measure converges to a consistent value can indicate the scales at which a well‐defined climate signal emerges from internal variability. Below this threshold, there may be insufficient data for robust evaluation, particularly for rare extremes. Here, the behaviour of several divergence measures in response to spatial and temporal aggregation is analysed empirically to give a novel evaluation of CMIP6 daily maximum temperature simulations against reanalysis. Some key insights presented here can inform methodological choices made when deriving adaptation‐relevant information. Convergence varies according to model, geographic region and divergence measure; selection of the level of precision at which models can provide reliable information therefore requires a context‐specific understanding. For this purpose, an interactive tool provided alongside this study demonstrates scale‐dependent evaluation across several geographic regions. Commonly applied measures are found to be only weakly sensitive to discrepancies in the tails of distributions.

Exploring the dynamic relationships between nocturnal heart rate, sleep disruptions, anxiety levels, and depression severity over time in recurrent major depressive disorder.

Elevated night resting heart rate (HR) has been associated with increased depression severity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of sleep disturbance and the influence of anxiety on the relationship between night resting HR and depression severity. This is a secondary data analysis of data collected in the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse (RADAR) Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) longitudinal mobile health study, encompassing 461 participants (1774 observations) across three national centers (Netherlands, Spain, and the UK). Depression severity, anxiety, and sleep disturbance were assessed every three months. Night resting HR parameters in the 2 weeks preceding assessments were measured using a wrist-worn Fitbit device. Linear mixed models and causal mediation analysis were employed to examine the impact of sleep disturbance and anxiety on night resting HR on depression severity. Covariates included age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, antidepressant use, and comorbidities with other medical conditions. Higher night resting HR was linked to subsequent depressive severity, through the mediation of sleep disturbance. Anxiety contributed to an exacerbated level of sleep disturbance, subsequently intensifying depression severity. Anxiety exhibited no direct effect on night resting HR. Our findings underscore the mediating role of sleep disturbance in the effect of night resting HR on depression severity, and anxiety on depression severity. This insight has potential implications for early identification of indicators signalling worsening depression symptoms, enabling clinicians to initiate timely and responsive treatment measures.

P-1182. Impact of Standard Infection Prevention Measures, Including Contact Precautions, on Serratia marcescens Outbreaks in the Neonatal ICU

Abstract Background Serratia marcescens outbreaks attributed to lapses in hand hygiene, contaminated sinks or drains, and other sources of environmental contamination have been observed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).1S. marcescens outbreaks were identified in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) NICU, a level IV NICU with 150 beds, in 2019 and 2023. NICU Location and Infant Body Sites of Serratia marcescens Infections Proportion of 2019-2024 Quarter 1 Serratia marcescens infections from specific NICU locations (1A) and infant body sites (1B). Methods A detailed review of NICU S. marcescens infections was performed and quarterly infection rates per 1,000 patient-days were followed. The following response measures were implemented in ­­2020: 1. Contact isolation precautions (CP) for infants with S. marcescens infections. 2. Education provided to NICU staff: a. Impact of S. marcescens infections in infants. b. Potential sources of S. marcescens in the NICU. c. Importance of standard infection prevention measures, including hand hygiene, nail hygiene, isolation precautions, and environmental cleaning. 3. Cleaning or exchange of NICU sink aerators. 4. Installation of splash guards next to sinks in medication rooms. The following response measures were implemented in 2023: 5. Steps 1-3 above were re-implemented. 6. Sterile water was substituted for tap water during infant baths. 7. Whole genome sequencing was performed on seven S. marcescens isolates. A cutoff of >30 allelic differences between isolates indicated genetically unrelated strains. Annotated NICU Serratia marcescens Infection Rate Annotated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nosocomial Serratia marcescens infection rates per 1,000 patient-days by quarter and selected interventions. The dotted grey line indicates the average annual infection rate. Results Geographic clustering was identified in specific NICU locations (Figure 1A). The most common body site of infection was the respiratory tract, followed by bloodstream (Figure 1B). A sustained decrease in S. marcescens infection rates was observed following 2020 response measures (Figure 2). As such, CP for infants with S. marcescens was paused. In 2023, S. marcescens infection rates again doubled and re-implementation of interventions resulted in decreased infection rates. Isolates were genetically unrelated based on whole genome sequencing (Figure 3). Whole Genome Sequencing Results Minimum Spanning Tree showing patient Serratia marcescens isolates, including NICU room location (and date) of collection in circles and the number of allelic differences on linking lines between the circles. Conclusion Standard infection prevention measures, including CP, and mitigation of potential water exposure sources resulted in decreased S. marcescens infection rates following two separate outbreaks in the NICU. Despite temporal and geographic clustering, isolates were genetically unrelated. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Item-level measurement properties of the pediatric awareness and sensory motor assessment in children with medical complexity

IntroductionChildren with medical complexity (CMC) are medically fragile with severe brain damage and chronic conditions, necessitating daily care. Their neurological impairments often limit participation in childhood activities, affecting quality of life. Current assessment tools fail to detect subtle abilities in CMC, hindering development of effective rehabilitation goals and interventions. The Pediatric Awareness and Sensory Motor Assessment (PASMA) was created to fill this gap, providing sensitive measurement of sensory awareness and motor response across five domains (i.e., olfactory, visual, auditory, gustatory, and tactile).MethodsIn this retrospective study, a Rasch analysis was conducted on PASMA data for CMC. The PASMA was administered five times over ten weekdays to each child, reflecting its intended clinical use to gain a reliable sense of each child's awareness.ResultsAnalysis of data from 36 CMC revealed that the PASMA is sufficiently unidimensional, effectively measuring sensory awareness and motor response as a single construct. Its rating scale structure was validated without modifications, and the item hierarchy matched clinical expectations. High item reliability (0.97) was observed, with one item (V2 blink in response to light) slightly misfitting, but without affecting overall measures. Adequate person reliability was observed (0.81), with 15% person misfit. Person misfit did not degrade item measures or model statistics. Differential item functioning (DIF) was noted for the three easiest items on specific days. The PASMA successfully stratified participants into three distinct awareness levels (low, medium, and high awareness), without floor or ceiling effects.DiscussionThe PASMA is a valid unidimensional measure of sensory awareness and motor response in CMC. Rating scale characteristics, item hierarchy, and person separation measures all support the PASMA's measurement properties within this heterogeneous sample of CMC. DIF findings support a potential reduction in the recommended number of PASMA administrations per individual. Future research will focus on establishing rater reliability and external validity. Additional efforts will support health professionals to utilize the PASMA for baseline assessments, guiding personalized interventions, and tracking progress.ConclusionClinical use of the PASMA could provide new opportunities to detect subtle abilities, preferences, and changes in CMC, to promote meaningful participation and improve quality of life.

P-1959. B.1.617.2 Outbreak Mitigation on an International Steel Cargo Ship Utilizing a Multidisciplinary Approach

Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant emerged in India and became widespread in the United States in 2021. Evidence suggested it was more transmissible than other variants.Figure 1:SARS-CoV-2 Cases on the Steel Cargo Ship Timeline Methods From 01 May to 22 May 2021, 14 cases of COVID-19 were linked to an international steel cargo ship docked on the Detroit River, after 5 new members joined the crew from India. Cases were reported to the Detroit Health Department (DHD) on 08 May 2021. A strict weekly testing schedule was maintained by DHD. Control measures included a multidisciplinary partnership between DHD, local universities and hospitals. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) considered environmental health, infection control and behavioral health interventions. Measures for control included testing, and quarantine, vaccine, antibody therapy, and access to hospital care. Results 14 out of 21 total crew members were confirmed positive (attack rate 67%). Once no new cases were found, a 14-day working quarantine was applied per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance. On 13 May 2021, the DHD vaccine outreach team administered Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, without incident, to all medically eligible crew (n = 19). Janssen was selected considering the ship’s upcoming departure from Detroit and the limitation for follow-up doses. Conclusion Response measures taken for this ship involved quarantine, isolation, disinfection and ventilation protocols, installation of filter units, behavioral health recommendations for anxiety-reducing strategies, antibody therapy, hospital care, vaccine administration and education. A MDT approach and multicomponent control strategy was critical to mitigate further spread. DHD’s communicable diseases investigations, vaccination, and testing capabilities were essential, including continued guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and CDC. Full transparency from the ship crew prevented potential spread of the variant in Detroit. On 02 June 2021, the ship was cleared by DHD, MDHHS, and CDC to depart. This incident led to the approval and vaccination of 3 subsequent ships whose crews also originated from the Indian subcontinent. This study provides a model for investigation and control of infection related to international ships. Disclosures Seema Joshi, MD, AbbVie: Grant/Research Support Marcus Zervos, MD, Johnson and johnson: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support

Hypertensive load predicts recovery of renal function for patients undergoing revascularisation for renal artery stenosis

Renal ischaemia due to renal artery stenosis produces two differing responses - a juxtaglomerular hypertensive response and cortical renal dysfunction. The reversibility of renal impairment is not predictable, and thus renal revascularisation is controversial. This study aims to test the hypothesis that the hypertensive response to renal ischaemia reflects viable renal parenchyma, and thus could be used to predict the recovery in renal function. A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients who had renal revascularisation for renal impairment in a defined geographical area (West of Scotland, population 2.4 million) between 2008 and 2024. Clinical records were used to determine the pre-intervention blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medication load and renal function, and post-intervention outcomes. The Hypertensive Index (HTi), a combined measure of systolic blood pressure and antihypertensive drug load, was used as a measure of pre-intervention hypertensive response. 75 patients had intervention for renal impairment over 15 years (68 endovascular, 7 open). Mean pre-intervention serum creatinine of 323 µmol/L was reduced to 191 umol/L at discharge and 182 µmol/L at 6-month follow-up. Refractory hypertension (HTi > 120) was associated with a significant benefit from revascularisation with improved renal function (p = 0.003) and reduced risk of future dialysis (p = 0.001). Renal impairment with no hypertensive response was highly predictive of the need for future dialysis. The hypertensive index is a good predictor of the impact of renal revascularisation on improving renal function with good outcomes in selected patients, and the absence of this is an indicator of chronic non-reversible renal dysfunction.

Climate change response measures in South African road transport sector: lessons from BRICS countries

Climate change can be mainstreamed into road transport sector and its policies by integrating mitigation actions, focusing on Green-House Gas (GHG) emission reduction, and building adaptive capacity for a climate-resilient road transport sector. Although research frequently emphasizes the difficulties of adaptation, this article explores the influence of climate change on the road transport network and examines how road transport contributes to climate change. Factors such as experiencing the costs of climate change, valuing the local ecosystem, resources availability, and political will is key to successful adaptation efforts. This article used desk research to gather information on mitigation and adaptation actions adopted by BRICS countries from various sources like government documents, the internet, books, articles and scientific reviews. It is therefore, deduced that BRICS countries can promote climate-friendly transport by prioritizing green logistics, green innovation and renewable natural resources, while promoting sustainable development and supporting renewable energy. BRICS represents Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, a group of developing economies working together to strengthen their economic and political influence. This article draws lessons from BRICS countries and conclude that South Africa should decrease fossil fuel use in the road transport sector for climate-friendly options.

Wearing Hearing Protection Makes Me Worse at My Job: Impacts of Hearing Protection Use on Sensorimotor Tracking Performance.

Occupational hearing loss is a significant problem worldwide despite the fact that it can be mitigated by the wearing of hearing protection devices (HPDs). When surveyed, workers frequently report that worsened work performance while wearing HPDs is one reason why they choose not to wear them. However, there have been few studies to supplement these subjective reports with objective measures. Where they do exist, assessed performance measures have mostly characterized auditory situational awareness in gross terms (e.g., average speech comprehension scores over an entire session). The temporal dynamics of performance and HPD impacts on nonauditory aspects of work performance are largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap in the literature by measuring how HPD usage impacted sensorimotor tracking performance in relation to ongoing auditory events. In two experiments, listeners heard commands sourced from the coordinate response measure (CRM) corpus (i.e., sentences of the form "Ready <call sign> go to <color> <number> now"). These commands informed listeners of which of nine moving on-screen objects to track with a computer mouse (e.g., "blue four" refers the listener to a blue square). The commands were presented in background street noise and were heard under either "No HPD" or "HPD" conditions. In experiment 1, HPD wearing was simulated with a digital filter designed to mimic the attenuation profile of a passive HPD. In experiment 2, actual HPDs were worn by listeners. Continuous recording of tracking error allowed us to simultaneously examine how HPD wearing impacted speech comprehension, the accuracy of tracking, and how tracking accuracy varied as a function of time on task and ongoing auditory events (e.g., the presentation of a critical CRM sentence). In both experiments, listeners spent less time tracking the correct object in the HPD condition. After trimming data to those time points in which the target object was known, worse performance was exhibited by the HPD condition than the No HPD condition. In the examination of the temporal dynamics of tracking error, it was apparent that differences arose strongly during the presentation of CRM sentences. Workers' complaints of poorer performance while wearing HPDs are justified and extend beyond just diminished auditory situational awareness. The negative impact on nonauditory aspects of work performance may be strongest around critical listening periods. Addressing these aspects of performance will be an important part of addressing HPD nonuse in occupational settings.

P1099 Simple magnetic resonance imaging markers are non-inferior measures of treatment response compared to complex disease activity scores in patients with active Crohn’s disease

Abstract Background Minimally invasive modalities have shown significant potential for monitoring disease severity and treatment response in Crohn’s disease (CD). Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring systems have been validated in research settings. However, these calculations are time-consuming, which limit their widespread adoption in clinical practice. This analysis evaluated treatment response in patients with active CD using simple imaging markers and compared them to complex multifactorial scores. Methods A post-hoc analysis was conducted using data from a prospective, blinded, multicenter study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03435016). The study included patients with endoscopically active CD and a clinical indication for medical treatment. All patients completed ileocolonoscopy (IC) and MRI-enterocolonography with intravenous contrast and diffusion-weighted sequences before and after treatment. IC served as the gold standard. Response was defined as a ≥ 50% reduction of Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD). The simple markers evaluated were bowel wall thickness (BWT) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Measurements were performed on the most severely affected ileocolonic segment and were compared to Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity (MaRIA), Simplified MaRIA (sMaRIA), and the Clermont score. Results Forty-two patients with known CD were included in the analysis. Patient characteristics are shown in Table 1. Endoscopic response was achieved in 19 patients (45.2%) with a median SES-CD of 11.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 9-17) and 7.0 (IQR 0-13) before and after medical treatment, both P &amp;lt; 0.001. MaRIA, sMaRIA, Clermont score, BWT, and ADC all significantly improved in patients with endoscopic response compared to non-responders (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Receiver operating characteristics are shown in Figure 1. The diagnostic accuracy for the absolute difference in BTW (AUC 0.735, 95% CI 0.583-0.886) and ADC (AUC 0.753, 95% CI 0.602-0.904) appeared to be higher than MaRIA (AUC 0.595, 95% CI 0.415-0.775), P = 0.12 and P = 0.13, respectively. The relative reduction of BTW (AUC 0.761, 95% CI 0.611-0.911) trended towards higher diagnostic accuracy compared to MaRIA (AUC 0.627, 95% CI 0.448-0.806, P = 0.098). A &amp;gt; 17% relative reduction of BWT resulted in an optimal sensitivity and specificity of 73.7% (95% CI 48.8-90.9) and 82.6% (95% CI 61.2-95.0), respectively. Conclusion Repeated measurements of BWT or ADC in the most diseased ileocolonic segment appear to be non-inferior to validated scores like MaRIA and sMaRIA at determining response to medical treatment in patients with active CD. These measurements are simple to perform and do not require intravenous contrast.

Prenatal Corticosterone Impacts Nestling Condition and Immunity in Eastern Bluebirds.

Exposure of avian mothers to stressful conditions permanently alters offspring behavior and physiology. Yet, the effects of maternal stress on the development of offspring immunity in birds remain unclear, particularly in wild species. We injected Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) eggs with either a corticosterone or control solution, then measured the impacts on nestling morphology and two measures of immunity, bactericidal capacity and swelling responses to phytohemagglutinin. Nestlings from corticosterone-treated eggs had lower condition indices at hatch but quickly caught up to their control counterparts by Day 5 posthatch and until fledging. Corticosterone-exposed nestlings also mounted smaller swelling responses to phytohemagglutinin, whereas there were no effects on bactericidal capacity. These results indicate that maternal stress can impact offspring immunocompetence, fitness prospects, and potentially their ability to fend off parasites and pathogens.

Proactive Incident Response Measures – From Threat Hunting to Mitigation

Proactive Incident Response Measures – From Threat Hunting to Mitigation

Analysis of vulnerability, its drivers, and strategies applied towards reducing the pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood vulnerability to climatic shocks

In recent decades, the global climate has changed mainly due to human-induced causes and realizing their manifestations in the forms of extreme events such as droughts, floods, heat stress, and variability in rainfall. Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are sensitive to changes in climate variability, including the Borana zone. This study was therefore initiated to assess how vulnerable pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods are to climate change, as well as to estimate the effects, and pinpoint potential response measures that could be implemented in the study area. Data were gathered by surveys, focused group and expert group discussions. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, while the qualitative data was analyzed using thematically organized content analysis. The findings indicate that there is high degree of climatic risk to the livelihoods of both pastoralists and agro-pastoralists (− 0.37). The ability of pastoralists to adapt in comparison to agro-pastoralists is largely determined by numbers of factors, including inadequate livelihood strategies, poor access to social safety networks and services, knowledge and communication gaps, and availability of water resources. The area was extremely susceptible to the effects of climate change, which led to disaster. The primary outcome, which also affects other sources of income, is the loss of livestock (97%) which is followed by food shortages (91%), decreased income (84%), feed scarcity (83%), water scarcity (80%), and crop failure (79%). Managing livestock, taking advantage of social capital, storing hay and crop residue, and destocking animals during the period of severe drought were the main strategies used to reduce the vulnerability and enhance the adaptive capacity. Furthermore, despite the government’s numerous efforts to lesson enduring vulnerabilities and their effects, progress has not been encouraging because of lack of proactive action when faced with emergences. Hence, in order to decrease vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity, policymakers and development practitioners should collaborate proactively and develop area-specific adaptation strategies. These might include income diversification, increased access to water and pasture; installation of easily accessible market channels; and establishment of early warning systems that assist community preparation and resilience.

Enhancing energy performance of glazing systems using solid-solid phase change materials

In recent years, the implementation of decarbonization measures in response to global warming has brought significant attention to the building sector, recognizing it as a major contributor to CO2 emissions. This study explores the unique combination of solid-solid phase change material (SSPCM) in double-glazed window (DGW) subjected to different climates, offering a novel approach to enhancing energy efficiency of glazing system, thus Building envelope. To assess the system’s energy performance, numerical simulations were performed across a range of temperature conditions. These have included extreme temperatures of the hottest and coldest days of the year, as well as different weather patterns such as sunny and cloudy days in the cities of Montreal, Vancouver, and Miami. The obtained results demonstrated that during summer sunny conditions, energy savings were achieved in both Montreal (17.5%) and Vancouver (23.5%), while Miami experienced energy losses (5.3%). On summer cloudy days, energy savings were observed exclusively in Vancouver (53.6%), whereas energy losses occurred in both Montreal (356%) and Miami (36.3%). Under winter sunny conditions, all cities showed energy losses due to the SSPCM blocking beneficial direct solar radiation during the daytime (Montreal: 18.8%, Vancouver: 3.1%, and Miami: 270%). Conversely, during winter cloudy conditions, energy savings were noted in all cities, as the SSPCM helped retain warm indoor air (Montreal: 7.0%, Vancouver: 12.4%, and Miami: 26.2%). The results revealed that complete visual transparency can be achieved during office hours, enhancing the suitability of the proposed glazing system for commercial applications. These findings can help in designing energy-efficient glazing systems subjected to various climatic conditions.