Similar Preferences Research Articles

Combining the spatiotemporal mobility patterns and MMC for next location prediction of fake base stations

The spatiotemporal mobility patterns and next location prediction of fake base stations (FBS) provide important technical support for the police to prevent spam messages from FBS. However, due to the difficulty in locating their real-time locations, our understanding of the mobility patterns and predictability of FBS is still limited. Based on the crowdsourced spam data, we extract the time and potential locations of FBS and propose a Tucker-MMC method that combines Tucker decomposition with a Mobility Markov Chain (MMC) model to investigate the mobility patterns and predictability of FBS sending spam messages. First, we utilize Tucker decomposition to reflect the spatial and temporal preferences during the movement of the corresponding FBS. Then the mobility regularity and the theoretical maximum predictability of the FBS trajectories with similar mobility preferences are analyzed by entropy and Fano's inequality. A Tucker-MMC is also established for the next location prediction. The results using the spam dataset in Beijing show that the accuracy of Tucker-MMC is more than double that of the MMC. The accuracy of the actual location prediction model is more likely to approach the theoretical maximum predictability when FBS send spam messages in a shorter time, shorter transfer distance, and smaller access range.

Wild or neat? Personal traits affect public preference for wildness of urban lakeshores in France and China

Urban natural spaces with high wildness degrees could harbor greater biodiversity and provide more experiences of nature for urbanites than green–blue spaces that are perfectly manicured and regularly maintained. Existing empirical studies have suggested that people tend to prefer moderately wild landscapes. However, urbanites’ preferences for varying wildness degrees of urban landscapes have rarely been studied in developing countries with fast-growing cities. Using a photograph-based survey, this study compared citizens’ preferences for an urban wildness gradient of urban lakeshores between developed (Tours, France) and developing (Wuhan, China) contexts. In Tours and Wuhan, respectively, 120 and 295 questionnaires were collected, focusing on lakeshore visitors only. Bootstrapping and thematic analysis of the survey responses affirmed that urban lakeshores with medium-degree wildness are consistently preferred across developed and developing contexts, a result that can be attributed to the perceived balance between landscape coherence/legibility and complexity/mystery. Moreover, some respondents (25.8 % from Tours and 32.6 % from Wuhan) showed a strong preference for complex and unstructured lakeshore landscapes with high wildness for different reasons. In Tours, respondents’ preference for high wildness degree was associated with more frequent visits to lakeshore areas. In Wuhan, a similar preference was associated with increasing age. While increasing the wildness of urban lakeshores from low to medium could adequately meet public preferences, attracting more frequent visits and helping younger residents to appreciate urban wildness should be considered for successfully restoring/enriching biodiversity and mobilizing public support for wild urban landscapes.

Pay all subjects or pay only some? An experiment on decision-making under risk and ambiguity

We investigate the validity of a double random incentive system where only a subset of subjects is paid for one of their choices. By focusing on individual decision-making under risk and ambiguity, we show that using either a standard random incentive system, where all subjects are paid, or a double random system, where only 10% of subjects are paid, yields similar preference elicitation results. These findings suggest that adopting a double random incentive system could significantly reduce experimental costs and logistic efforts, thereby facilitating the exploration of individual decision-making in larger-scale and higher-stakes experiments.

Unravelling the ideal roster: A cross-sectional study of nurse shift preferences using multivariate analysis: Unravelling the ideal roster: An analysis of nurse shift preferences.

Our study aims to explore nurses' shift preferences in relation to their personal characteristics and examine how these preferences align with the rosters imposed in Belgian healthcare settings. Additionally, the study seeks to identify patterns in shift preferences across different days of the week and investigate the existence of distinct groups of nurses with similar preferences, further examining the link between these groups and their personal characteristics. Cross-sectional. Questionnaires were distributed to 778 nurses across 11 general hospitals in Belgium, collecting data on demographics, chronotype, shift preferences, and roster alignment. Statistical analyses included logistic regression, principal component analysis, and k-means clustering. Age and chronotype significantly influence nurses' shift preferences. Preferences were consistent across the days within the week. The study revealed two groups of preferences: 'early birds' (preferring morning/day shifts) and 'night owls' (preferring evening/night shifts). Night owls were often neutral or evening-type chronotypes and had a higher alignment between imposed and ideal rosters. This study reinforces the importance of considering individual differences in nurses' shift preferences, linked to age and chronotype, and advocates for the adoption of flexible, personalized rostering systems. Personalized scheduling has the potential to improve workforce management, suggesting that healthcare administrators should consider individual preferences in rostering to mitigate the challenges of nurse understaffing. Tackles the pressing problem of nurse understaffing. Proposes that tailored rosters based on individual preferences could improve work conditions for nurses. Relevant to policymakers aiming to enhance nursing workforce management. STROBE Statement (for cross-sectional studies). None.

Outcomes Using the Optimized Pitch and Language Strategy Versus the Advanced Combination Encoder Strategy in Mandarin-Speaking Cochlear Implant Recipients.

The experimental Optimized Pitch and Language (OPAL) strategy enhances coding of fundamental frequency (F0) information in the temporal envelope of electrical signals delivered to channels of a cochlear implant (CI). Previous studies with OPAL have explored performance on speech and lexical tone perception in Mandarin- and English-speaking CI recipients. However, it was not clear which cues to lexical tone (primary and/or secondary) were used by the Mandarin CI listeners. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate whether OPAL provides improved recognition of Mandarin lexical tones in both quiet and noisy environments compared with the Advanced Combination Encoder (ACE) strategy. A secondary aim was to investigate whether, and to what extent, removal of secondary (duration and intensity envelope) cues to lexical tone affected Mandarin tone perception. Thirty-two CI recipients with an average age of 24 (range 7 to 57) years were enrolled in the study. All recipients had at least 1 year of experience using ACE. Each subject attended two testing sessions, the first to measure baseline performance, and the second to evaluate the effect of strategy after provision of some take-home experience using OPAL. A minimum take-home duration of approximately 4 weeks was prescribed in which subjects were requested to use OPAL as much as possible but were allowed to also use ACE when needed. The evaluation tests included recognition of Mandarin lexical tones in quiet and in noise (signal to noise ratio [SNR] +5 dB) using naturally produced tones and duration/intensity envelope normalized versions of the tones; Mandarin sentence in adaptive noise; Mandarin monosyllabic and disyllabic word in quiet; a subset of Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of hearing questionnaire (SSQ, speech hearing scale); and subjective preference for strategy in quiet and noise. For both the natural and normalized lexical tone tests, mean scores for OPAL were significantly higher than ACE in quiet by 2.7 and 2.9%-points, respectively, and in noise by 7.4 and 7.2%-points, respectively. Monosyllabic word recognition in quiet using OPAL was significantly higher than ACE by approximately 7.5% points. Average SSQ ratings for OPAL were significantly higher than ACE by approximately 0.5 points on a 10-point scale. In quiet conditions, 14 subjects preferred OPAL, 7 expressed a preference for ACE, and 9 reported no preference. Compared with quiet, in noisy situations, there was a stronger preference for OPAL (19 recipients), a similar preference for ACE (7 recipients), while fewer expressed no preference. Average daily take-home use of ACE and OPAL was 4.9 and 7.1 hr, respectively. For Mandarin-speaking CI recipients, OPAL provided significant improvements to lexical tone perception for natural and normalized tones in quiet and noise, monosyllabic word recognition in quiet, and subjective ratings of speech intelligibility. Subjects accessed both primary and secondary cues to lexical tone for perception in quiet and noise conditions. The benefits of lexical tone recognition were attributed to enhanced F0 rate cues encoded by OPAL, especially in a noisy environment. The OPAL strategy was well accepted by many of the Mandarin-speaking CI recipients.

New data about overlooked terricolous lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi of Ukraine

The new distribution data on rarely collected terricolous lichen species in Ukraine, Agonimia globulifera, Enchylium limosum, Epiphloea byssina, Gregorella humida, Sarcosagium campestre, Steinia geophana, Scytinium biatorinum, S. schraderi, and Verrucaria bryoctona, are provided. Notably, A. globulifera and S. biatorinum have been reported for the first time in the lowland part of Ukraine. Furthermore, the lichenicolous fungus Llimoniella terricola, growing on Epiphloea byssina, is reported for the first time in Eastern Europe. Descriptions, along with notes on similar species, habitat preferences, and general distribution, are provided for each species.

Spatial distribution pattern of mustelids in the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Evolutionary theory predicts that the species of an evolutionarily successful taxon would not overlap in spatial distribution. To test the prediction, we document our research on the spatial associations of mustelids, an evolutionarily successful group of order Carnivore, using infrared camera trap data on species distribution collected from the national nature reserves (NNRs) of Liancheng, Wolong, Tangjiahe and Heizhugou in China in 2017-2021. Data showed seven mustelid species occurring in the study area, including Arctonyx collaris, Meles leucurus, Martes foina, Martes flavigula, Mustela altaica, Mustela nivalis and Mustela sibirica. Following Ricklef's definition of biological community, we identified five networks of species associations. The mustelids occurred in the networks. Species from the same genus, such as M. foina and M. flavigula, stayed in different networks to avoid competition owing to similar feeding habits or habitat preferences. Species with different feeding habits or habitat preferences either occurred in different networks, such as M. altaica and M. flavigula, or coexisted in the same networks but avoided direct spatial associations, such as M. foina and A. collaris. Asymmetrical associations were found between different genera, such as M. foina and M. altaica, or between different subfamilies, such as M. flavigula and A. collaris. These associations may be attributed to interspecific killing or seed dispersal. However, these associations accounted for only a small proportion and would not impact the species diversity of Mustelidae. It is thus concluded that the prediction is supported by our research findings and that spatial avoidance may be the biogeographic strategy of maintaining the species diversity of the family. We also found that the well protection of the mustelids may benefit the overall biodiversity conservation in Heizhugou, an NNR that has experienced severe deforestation.

Physician preferences for treatment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)–A discrete choice experiment

ObjectiveApproximately 80 % of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) do not achieve the guideline-based target for low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels in current clinical practice, particularly the 95 % of ASCVD patients receiving oral statin monotherapy. The objective was to determine physician prescribing preferences for LDL-C lowering therapies beyond statins for patients with ASCVD. MethodsA discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey was administered to cardiologists and primary care physicians in the United States, presenting a series of treatment choices systematically varied across 8 treatment attributes: % LDL-C reduction, myalgias, other side effects, route and frequency of administration, time to prior authorization, patient monthly out-of-pocket cost (mOOP), and adherence. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to estimate preference weights for each attribute. ResultsA total of 200 cardiologists and 50 primary care physicians (PCPs) completed the survey. Both exhibited similar prescribing preferences, highly valuing efficacy in reducing LDL-C levels and minimization of patients OOP cost. Each additional 10 % reduction in LDL-C was associated with a 69 % relative increase in physician preference. By contrast, a 10 % relative decrease in preference was observed for each $10 additional monthly mOOP. Compared to PCPs, cardiologists tended to place more emphasis on LDL-C reduction, being more willing to accept higher mOOP or side effects. Although oral therapies were preferred, injectable therapies, like the PCSK9 siRNA-like drug, administered less frequently that allowed for greater LDL-C reduction were seen as having considerable utility, especially among patients with a history of medication nonadherence. ConclusionThese results document considerable preference similarities among cardiologist and PCP prescribers of LDL-C lowering therapies for ASCVD. Broad availability of several therapies with varying administration frequencies and product profiles are likely of great value to prescribing physicians aiming to achieve target LDL-C concentrations. Considering all aspects of treatment, most participants preferred a PCSK9 siRNA-like drug.

The Influence of K-Drama among University Students: A Case Study from City University of Macau

The influence of Korean entertainment, including Korean dramas, Korean music, and Korean fashion, is growing worldwide, including in mainland China and Macao. This study aims to explore the popularity of Korean dramas among college students at City University of Macau and the reasons behind them. The study was conducted using an online quantitative survey with 57 participants, and descriptive statistics were used for analysis. The results anticipate that the frequency of Korean drama consumption among college students at City University of Macau is relatively low, but there is also a small group of students who are highly enthusiastic about watching Korean dramas. To understand the reasons for this, interviews were conducted with Macao college students who watch Korean dramas and those who do not. The study identified four main anticipated factors influencing their decision to watch or not watch Korean dramas: cultural curiosity, drama attractiveness, cultural similarity, and personal preferences. These four main factors affect whether Macao college students watch or not watch Korean dramas, which also has far-reaching significance for further exploring Macao's foreign cultural industry and helping Macao promote cross-cultural exchanges.

Raising awareness about physical activity’s role in reducing cancer risk: qualitative interviews with immigrant women and community agency managers

ObjectivesTo explore how to reach immigrant women through community agencies to raise awareness of the role of physical activity (PA) in reducing cancer risk.Study designQualitative description.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with immigrant women and community agency managers to discuss the ideal design of an education session on PA and cancer risk, and identified themes using content analysis.ResultsParticipants included 22 women (6 African or Caribbean Black, 4 Chinese, 3 Filipino, 5 Indian, 4 Pakistani) and 16 agency managers from across Canada. Women were not familiar with Canada’s PA guidelines, and few were aware that PA reduces the risk of cancer. All expressed interest in education about PA and cancer. Diverse women and managers expressed similar preferences for education session design including content (e.g. PA amount/type), format (e.g. in person preferred but virtual more practical), personnel (external expert plus agency staff), cultural tailoring (e.g. translated supplemental take home information) and reinforcing (e.g. follow-up with participants) strategies. Women and managers identified few barriers to participating in education sessions, chiefly, that women lacked time due to work and family responsibilities; and noted several enablers of participation (e.g. emphasize social aspect, provide gift cards or recreation centre passes).ConclusionsWe generated insight on the ideal characteristics of a community-based education session that could raise awareness among immigrant women of the importance of PA in reducing cancer risk. Further research is needed to assess the feasibility and impact of PA education sessions designed based on these findings.

Beta diversity patterns and driving mechanisms of stream bacteria and fungi on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Aquatic microbes, which are highly diverse in freshwater biofilms, play a vital role in shaping the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Nevertheless, the influence of environmental factors on aquatic microbes in different biogeographic ecosystems, especially in tropical mountains, is relatively unexplored. Here, we examined the relative influence of climate and physicochemical factors on beta diversity of stream bacteria and fungi using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing at 40 sites on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Towards larger elevational distance, the total beta diversity and turnover of bacteria and fungi increased significantly, while nestedness decreased. The beta diversity of fungi showed greater spatial variation than that of bacteria, while the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD) showed U-shaped elevational pattern for both taxa. Bacteria and fungi had strong positive relationships regarding the total beta diversity, LCBD and their components, except for nestedness, indicating similar environmental preferences and resource overlap. Among environmental variables, mean annual temperature, water depth and elevation predicted microbial beta diversity, while water depth, mean annual temperature and precipitation primarily affected LCBD. Overall, climate-related variables were the dominant factors for beta diversity and their effects were more pronounced for fungi than bacteria. The contrasting patterns of bacterial and fungal beta diversity and their ecological interactions in tropical aquatic ecosystems provide a rare dataset for assessing ecological functions in understudied aquatic ecosystems and predicting the impact of global change on microorganisms.

An integrated assessment of niche partitioning reveals mechanisms of coexistence between mesocarnivores

Species diversity depends on the capacity of species to coexist, and when these share similar ecological requirements some degree of partitioning of the ecological niche is expected. Within the order Carnivora, direct and indirect interspecific interactions shape community structure and composition. Although strong negative interactions (e.g., interspecific killing) are expected between large carnivores and subordinate species, mesocarnivores that dominate most human disturbed landscapes can still strongly compete for resources given their similar body size and energy requirements. To identify the mechanisms of coexistence between mesocarnivore species in a Mediterranean landscape we assessed the ecological niche overlap between five species (Vulpes vulpes, Meles meles, Martes foina, Herpestes ichneumon, Genetta genetta), by simultaneously measuring the space, time, and trophic resource use. The multi-species occupancy model fit to camera-trapping data revealed spatial co-occurrence between most species’ pairs and an avoidance pattern between only stone marten and Eurasian badger (78 % probability of a negative effect). Using genetically identified scats, we assessed trophic niche breadth and overlap. Niche breadth was narrow for red fox, Eurasian badger, and stone marten, given these species consumed almost exclusively fruits and arthropods, and so trophic niche overlap was high. For the genet and the mongoose, the consumption of different food resources (e.g., mammals, birds, and reptiles) increased niche breadth and decreased the niche overlap with the other sympatric species. Finally, niche segregation was more significant along the temporal axis, since the mongoose has a diurnal activity pattern and the remaining carnivore species, although mostly nocturnal, had small asynchronies in the activity peaks which could decrease the chance of direct encounters. Therefore, our results suggest that similar habitat preferences and ecological requirements rather than interspecific competition shape the mesocarnivores’ resource use in this landscape. Nonetheless, fine-scale temporal segregation seems the main mechanism to facilitate coexistence, together with small differences in trophic resource use, especially for species with high spatial and temporal overlap.

Treatment patterns and preferences of people living with HIV starting or switching antiretroviral therapy: Real-world evidence from Portugal.

There is a lack of up-to-date real-life evidence on antiretroviral therapy (ART) strategies among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Portugal. This study aimed to describe the treatment strategy used in PLWH either initiating or switching ART. Non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study carried out between December 2019 and October 2021 in Portugal. A total of 237 PLWH were included in this study, 171 of whom were ART-experienced and 66 were ART-naïve. The study showed that triple regimens were the most common ART strategy and integrase strand transfer inhibitors-based therapy was the most frequently used therapeutic class in both ART-naïve and ART-experienced PLWH. Nevertheless, about a third of PLWH who started a triple regimen transitioned to a dual regimen. Patient-reported outcomes revealed high HIV literacy and similar ART preferences in both groups. This real-world study showed that triple regimens were the most widely used ART strategy, even after the European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines introduced the recommendation of a dual regimen for naïve patients. The cohorts of this study presented a high level of HIV literacy at the time of inclusion. Our findings highlighted that taking pills only once a day is considered a very important feature for most patients.

Unravelling the polymorphic characteristics of carbamazepine through additive-assisted sonocrystallisation

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the influence of additives on the antisolvent crystallisation process of carbamazepine (CBZ) using methanol as the solvent and water as the antisolvent, with ultrasonic irradiation at a specific solvent-to-antisolvent (S/A) ratio of 1:2 and a 30-watt power ultrasonic horn. Various additives, such as Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC), Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Tween 80, and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS), were employed to examine their effects on the morphology, stability (including suspension and thermal stability), crystallinity, and polymorphism of CBZ crystals. Raw CBZ exhibited irregular shapes during crystallisation, while SDS addition resulted in both plate-like and needle-like crystals. Conversely, BSA, HPMC, and Tween 80 induced the formation of needle, plate, and block-like crystal structures, respectively. Suspension stability ranked as SDS > BSA > HPMC > Tween 80. Regarding polymorphism, HPMC favoured Form 1, BSA and SDS favoured Form IV, and Tween 80 favoured Form I. Additionally, Tween 80 depicted similar preference for Form I polymorph as HPMC. Notably, Form II and Form III polymorphs were present to varying degrees in all samples, except for Tween 80. This study provides crucial insights into the controlled crystallisation of CBZ and the impact of additives on crystal properties, offering valuable information for tailoring CBZ crystal production for specific pharmaceutical applications.

Transcription factor binding specificities of the oomycete Phytophthora infestans reflect conserved and divergent evolutionary patterns and predict function

BackgroundIdentifying the DNA-binding specificities of transcription factors (TF) is central to understanding gene networks that regulate growth and development. Such knowledge is lacking in oomycetes, a microbial eukaryotic lineage within the stramenopile group. Oomycetes include many important plant and animal pathogens such as the potato and tomato blight agent Phytophthora infestans, which is a tractable model for studying life-stage differentiation within the group.ResultsMining of the P. infestans genome identified 197 genes encoding proteins belonging to 22 TF families. Their chromosomal distribution was consistent with family expansions through unequal crossing-over, which were likely ancient since each family had similar sizes in most oomycetes. Most TFs exhibited dynamic changes in RNA levels through the P. infestans life cycle. The DNA-binding preferences of 123 proteins were assayed using protein-binding oligonucleotide microarrays, which succeeded with 73 proteins from 14 families. Binding sites predicted for representatives of the families were validated by electrophoretic mobility shift or chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Consistent with the substantial evolutionary distance of oomycetes from traditional model organisms, only a subset of the DNA-binding preferences resembled those of human or plant orthologs. Phylogenetic analyses of the TF families within P. infestans often discriminated clades with canonical and novel DNA targets. Paralogs with similar binding preferences frequently had distinct patterns of expression suggestive of functional divergence. TFs were predicted to either drive life stage-specific expression or serve as general activators based on the representation of their binding sites within total or developmentally-regulated promoters. This projection was confirmed for one TF using synthetic and mutated promoters fused to reporter genes in vivo.ConclusionsWe established a large dataset of binding specificities for P. infestans TFs, representing the first in the stramenopile group. This resource provides a basis for understanding transcriptional regulation by linking TFs with their targets, which should help delineate the molecular components of processes such as sporulation and host infection. Our work also yielded insight into TF evolution during the eukaryotic radiation, revealing both functional conservation as well as diversification across kingdoms.

Biogeographic and co-occurrence network differentiation of fungal communities in warm-temperate montane soils

Studying the biogeographic patterns of fungal communities across altitudinal and soil depth gradients is essential for understanding how environmental variations shape the diversity and functionality of these complex ecological assemblages. Here, we evaluated the response and assembly patterns of fungal communities to altitude and soil depth, and the co-occurrence patterns influencing soil fungal metabolic preferences on Dongling Mountain. We observed significant variations in fungal β-diversity, driven by elevation and soil depth, with climatic parameters (MAT and MAP) and nutrient concentrations (TOC, TP, and TN) serving as prominent influencers. Additionally, we found that the multiple substrate-induced respiration rate of fungi degrading various carbon substrates was diminished in high-altitude and subsurface soils compared to low-altitude and surface soils. Stochastic processes play a more important role in controlling fungal community assembly than deterministic processes, with dispersal limitation emerging as the main driver of community assembly. While greater network complexity was evident in the topsoil compared to the subsoil, both layers harbored altitude-sensitive OTUs (asOTUs) that belonging to distinct modules. Moreover, fungal groups sensitive to the same altitude exhibited similar metabolic preferences. The asOTUs designated for lower altitude areas favored unstable carbon substrates (glucose and sucrose), while those designated as higher altitude areas exhibited a preference for recalcitrant carbon (xylan and lignin). This evidence suggests that soil fungal communities respond to environmental changes by trading off their life strategies and metabolic characteristics.

Comparable foraging effort and habitat use between two geographically proximate tropical seabird colonies

Effective seabird conservation requires understanding their marine spatial ecology. Tracking can reveal details of their foraging ecology and habitat use, as well as the suitability of marine protected areas for at-sea conservation, but results are often regionally specific. Here we characterised the foraging behaviour of tropical breeding brown boobies Sula leucogaster in the Chagos Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean, and tested habitat requirements. GPS tracking of thirteen individuals from two colonies, located 142 km apart on the same atoll (Great Chagos Bank), showed similar foraging effort and habitat preferences despite differences in season and breeding stage. Brown boobies from both tracked populations foraged close to the colony along the atoll shelf edge, avoiding deep oceanic areas and shallow waters of the Great Chagos Bank atoll, but within the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. Sea-level height anomaly and sea surface temperature were important foraging predictors at both sites, although birds experienced distinct environmental conditions between colonies. These results suggest that while brown boobies have colony-specific at-sea foraging areas, similarities in habitat drivers of distribution and foraging behaviour can inform predictions of distributions at other colonies within the archipelago, with important benefits for at-sea conservation efforts.

Practices and preferences for HIV testing and treatment services amongst partners of transgender women in Lima, Peru: An exploratory, mixed methods study.

In Peru, one-third of transgender women (TW) are estimated to be living with HIV. While TW are recognized as a priority population, their sexual partners are an at-risk hidden population with unmet needs for HIV services. We conducted a study examining the practices and preferences for HIV services among partners of transgender women (PTW), as compared to TW, to better understand the needs of PTW and inform HIV service delivery for them in Peru. Between July-October 2022 we conducted a cross-sectional mixed methods study among PTW and TW in Lima, Peru. Using an explanatory sequential design, we administered online surveys to PTW (n = 165) and TW (n = 69), then interviewed a subset of participants (n = 20: 16 PTW, 4 TW). We quantitatively and qualitatively described PTW practices/perspectives on HIV testing and treatment and compared them to TW practices/preferences; we also compared practices/preferences among PTW based on their relationship with TW. Overall, PTW and TW shared similar experiences and preferences for HIV testing/treatment, but fewer PTW reported accessing non-traditional HIV testing options and PTW expressed less strong preferences for HIV services. PTW practices/preferences varied by type of relationship with TWs. Surveys and interviews highlighted a need to prioritize efficiency for HIV testing, eliminate gender/sexuality-based discrimination in healthcare settings, increase privacy when delivering HIV services, and increase awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis. PTW identified many aspects related to the location, convenience, and privacy of HIV services as important. Next steps could include a discrete choice experiment to further clarify priorities for HIV services for PTW in Peru.

Patterns in Genome-Wide Codon Usage Bias in Representative Species of Lycophytes and Ferns.

The latest research shows that ferns and lycophytes have distinct evolutionary lineages. The codon usage patterns of lycophytes and ferns have not yet been documented. To investigate the gene expression profiles across various plant lineages with respect to codon usage, analyze the disparities and determinants of gene evolution in primitive plant species, and identify appropriate exogenous gene expression platforms, the whole-genome sequences of four distinct species were retrieved from the NCBI database. The findings indicated that Ceratopteris richardii, Adiantum capillus-veneris, and Selaginella moellendorffii exhibited an elevated A/U content in their codon base composition and a tendency to end with A/U. Additionally, S. capillus-veneris had more C/G in its codons and a tendency to end with C/G. The ENC values derived from both ENC-plot and ENC-ratio analyses deviated significantly from the standard curves, suggesting that the codon usage preferences of these four species were primarily influenced by genetic mutations and natural selection, with natural selection exerting a more prominent influence. This finding was further supported by PR2-Plot, neutrality plot analysis, and COA. A combination of RSCU and ENC values was used as a reference criterion to rank the codons and further identify the optimal codons. The study identified 24 high-frequency codons in C. richardii, A. capillus-veneris, and Diphasiastrum complanatum, with no shared optimal codons among the four species. Arabidopsis thaliana and Ginkgo biloba exhibited similar codon preferences to the three species, except for S. moellendorffii. This research offers a theoretical framework at the genomic codon level for investigating the phylogenetic relationships between lycophytes and ferns, shedding light on gene codon optimization and its implications for genetic engineering in breeding.

Effects of two fillers and process conditions on the water treatment efficiency of a continuous packed bed biofilm reactor.

This study evaluated the treatment efficiency of two selected fillers and their combination for improving the water quality of aquaculture wastewater using a packed bed biofilm reactor (PBBR) under various process conditions. The fillers used were nanosheet (NS), activated carbon (AC), and a combination of both. The results indicated that the use of combined fillers and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 h significantly enhanced water quality in the PBBR. The removal rates of chemical oxygen demand, NO2-─N, total suspended solids（TSS）, and chlorophyll a were 63.55%, 74.25%, 62.75%, and 92.85%, respectively. The microbiota analysis revealed that the presence of NS increased the abundance of microbial phyla associated with nitrogen removal, such as Nitrospirae and Proteobacteria. The difference between the M1 and M2 communities was minimal. Additionally, the microbiota in different PBBR samples displayed similar preferences for carbon sources, and carbohydrates and amino acids were the most commonly utilized carbon sources by microbiota. These results indicated that the combination of NS and AC fillers in a PBBR effectively enhanced the treatment efficiency of aquaculture wastewater when operated at an HRT of 4 h. The findings provide valuable insights into optimizing the design of aquaculture wastewater treatment systems.