Wider Impact Research Articles

Athlete Health and Human Performance Will Not Improve Without Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Data Sharing in Elite Sport.

There are two largely competing models for an athletics organization at both the collegiate and professional levels: the High Performance Model and the Medical Model. The High Performance Model arises from international Football perspective that places a "Performance Director" at the center of teams supporting the athletes. The Medical Model, supported by both the National Athletic Trainers Association and the NCAA, separates off medical staff (athletic trainers, physical therapists, and physicians, predominantly) and emphasizes the autonomy of medical decisions. The Medical Model has left clinicians in a "medical silo", limiting our ability to care for the individual athletes as holistic people and limits our wider impact in the field of athlete health and injury mitigation. We argue that Medical. Model is consistent with the High Performance Model only if we reject the notion that the "Performance Director" is an administrative person and instead conceptualize this as a "Health and Performance Information Hub" which facilitates transdisciplinary collaboration. This Commentary details how a data broker system can be used to accelerate transdisciplinary collaboration within an athletic organization, leading to better healthcare for athletes and improved team and individual performance. Furthermore, a transdisciplinary organization with data sharing is able to turn real-world data into real-world evidence, enhancing the care and performance of athletes locally as well as facilitating the creation of generalizable knowledge in the area of sports medicine and human performance.

Sargassum spp. Ethanolic Extract Elicits Toxic Responses and Malformations in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos.

The amount of Sargassum spp. arriving in the Caribbean Sea has increased steadily in the last few years, producing a profound environmental impact on the ecological dynamics of the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula. We characterized the toxicological effects of an ethanolic extract of Sargassum spp. on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos (ZFEs) in a 96-h static bioassay using T1 (0.01 mg/L), T2 (0.1 mg/L), T3 (1 mg/L), T4 (10 mg/L), T5 (25 mg/L), T6 (50 mg/L), T7 (75 mg/L), T8 (100 mg/L), T9 (200 mg/L), and T10 (400 mg/L). In this extract, we detected 74 compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), of which hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, and 2-pentanone 4-hydroxy-4-methyl, were the most abundant. In ZFEs, a median lethal concentration of 251 mg/L was estimated. Exposed embryos exhibited extensive morphological changes, including edema in the yolk sac, scoliosis, and loss of pigmentation, as well as malformations of the head, tail, and eyes. By integrating these abnormalities using the Integrated Biological Response (IBRv2) and General Morphological Score (GMS) indices, we were able to determine that ZFEs exposed to 200 mg/L (T9) exhibited the most pronounced biological response in comparison with the other groups. In the comparative transcriptomic analysis, 66 genes were upregulated, and 246 genes were downregulated in the group exposed to 200 mg/L compared with the control group. In the upregulated genes, we identified several gene ontology-enriched terms, such as response to xenobiotic stimuli, cellular response to chemical stimulus, transcriptional regulation, pigment metabolic process, erythrocyte differentiation and embryonic hemopoiesis, extracellular matrix organization, and chondrocyte differentiation involved in endochondral bone morphogenesis, among others. In the down-regulated genes, we found many genes associated with nervous system processes, sensory and visual perception, response to abiotic stimulus, and the nucleoside phosphate biosynthetic process. The probable connections among the morphological changes observed in the transcriptome are thoroughly discussed. Our findings suggest that Sargassum spp. exposure can induce a wide negative impact on zebrafish embryos. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1075-1089. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

The National Research and Innovation System in the United Kingdom: A Brief History

What is new? This paper provides a walk through key elements and decisions in recent UK research and innovation policy, up to September 2023. What was the approach? The paper uses the relevant policy documents of the period, and draws on the author’s lived experience. What is the academic impact? The paper provides a context for other studies of Research Management and Administration, enabling other researchers to connect to relevant parts of policy development. What is the wider impact? The paper provides research management practitioners with the context in which policies are developed, and the interconnections that will influence future policies. It is a form of practitioner’s literature survey, albeit not comprehensive.

Machine learning accelerated discovery of corrosion-resistant high-entropy alloys

Corrosion has a wide impact on society, causing catastrophic damage to structurally engineered components. An emerging class of corrosion-resistant materials are high-entropy alloys. However, high-entropy alloys live in high-dimensional composition and configuration space, making materials designs via experimental trial-and-error or brute-force ab initio calculations almost impossible. Here we develop a physics-informed machine-learning framework to identify corrosion-resistant high-entropy alloys. Three metrics are used to evaluate the corrosion resistance, including single-phase formability, surface energy and the compactness of oxide films formed on an alloy surface evaluated by Pilling–Bedworth ratios. We used random forest models to predict the single-phase formability, trained on an experimental dataset. Machine learning inter-atomic potentials were employed to calculate surface energies and Pilling–Bedworth ratios, which are trained on first-principles data fast sampled using embedded atom models. A combination of random forest models and high-fidelity machine learning potentials represents the first of its kind to relate chemical compositions to corrosion resistance of high-entropy alloys, paving the way for automatic design of materials with superior corrosion protection. This framework was demonstrated on AlCrFeCoNi high-entropy alloys and we identified composition regions with high corrosion resistance from a wide range of compositions. Machine learning predicted lattice constants and surface energies are consistent with values by first-principles calculations. The predicted single-phase formability and corrosion-resistant compositions of AlCrFeCoNi agree well with experiments. This framework provides a computationally efficient approach to navigate high-dimensional composition space of high-entropy alloys. It is general in its application and applicable to other complex materials, enabling high-throughput screening of material candidates and potentially accelerating the iteration of integrated computational materials engineering.

Knowledge about earthquake evacuation: A survey to high-rise buildings employee in Jakarta

The earthquake that occurred in Cianjur Regency on December 21, 2022 had a wide impact on the city of Jakarta and its surroundings. The shocks caused by the Cianjur earthquake were also felt by workers who were in high-rise buildings in the city of Jakarta and its surroundings. Evacuating employees in high-rise buildings has its own challenges, employee knowledge in earthquake evacuation is an interesting thing to study. This study aims to examine the level of knowledge of employees in earthquake evacuation and the factors that influence it. The survey was conducted on 79 worker respondents who have offices in high-rise buildings in Jakarta and its surroundings. The sampling was done randomly. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire designed to measure the variables of knowledge, experience and training. The results showed that 63.3% of the respondents had never experienced a destructive earthquake, 30.4% rarely experienced a destructive earthquake, and 6.3% often experienced a destructive earthquake. Respondents had never participated in earthquake preparedness training 34.2%, 50.6% rarely attended, and 15,2% often attended earthquake preparedness training. Respondents’ level of knowledge in earthquake preparedness was 91.1% in the high category and 8,9% in the moderate category. Training has a significant effect on earthquake preparedness knowledge.

A Master’s Course Can Emphasize Circular Economy in Municipal Solid Waste Management: Evidence from the University of Pisa

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents a significant global threat, which has to be managed by a model of production and consumption involving the sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling of existing materials and products for as long as possible, otherwise known as a circular economy (CE). However, there is not a universal rule for waste recycling strategies, and it has been demonstrated that active public participation is crucial in the satisfactory management of waste. In this context, citizen participation and education are two interrelated approaches, which can help to engage and inform people regarding waste and its wider impact. The present study describes the development of an interdisciplinary hackathon (hackathons are events whereby individuals from different backgrounds are brought together to work on the solutions to different problems), targeted to students of a postgraduate Master’s course on Sustainable Development and Climate Change in order to develop and understand the MSW problems and priorities currently being targeted, with the aim to propose new potential solutions for MSW reduction, reuse, and recycling. Following an empirical approach, four working groups were established and assigned the following specific tasks: (i) communication/citizen education on MSW; (ii) the reduction of MSW production; (iii) innovative solutions to recover and enhance secondary raw materials deriving from MSW processing; and (iv) the eco-design of the cities of the future concerning CE principles applied to MSW recycling. Overall, the following main findings were derived from the hackathon event: (i) an essential objective of the CE strategy is to drive Europe’s internal market towards the production and consumption of more sustainable products, thus reducing environmental and social pressures, while still retaining value; (ii) the most effective ways of tackling environmental problems are to ‘change the way we consume’, as well as to ‘change the way we produce and trade’, with the responsibility shared between businesses, governments, and the EU, as well as the citizens themselves. In this scenario, research and innovation play a key role in driving the necessary systemic changes to reach climate neutrality and ensure an inclusive ecological and economic transition. Overall, the present study confirms how the hackathon represents an effective tool to engage citizens in participation and education.

The ATR inhibitor ceralasertib potentiates cancer checkpoint immunotherapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment

The Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibitor ceralasertib in combination with the PD-L1 antibody durvalumab demonstrated encouraging clinical benefit in melanoma and lung cancer patients who progressed on immunotherapy. Here we show that modelling of intermittent ceralasertib treatment in mouse tumor models reveals CD8+ T-cell dependent antitumor activity, which is separate from the effects on tumor cells. Ceralasertib suppresses proliferating CD8+ T-cells on treatment which is rapidly reversed off-treatment. Ceralasertib causes up-regulation of type I interferon (IFNI) pathway in cancer patients and in tumor-bearing mice. IFNI is experimentally found to be a major mediator of antitumor activity of ceralasertib in combination with PD-L1 antibody. Improvement of T-cell function after ceralasertib treatment is linked to changes in myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment. IFNI also promotes anti-proliferative effects of ceralasertib on tumor cells. Here, we report that broad immunomodulatory changes following intermittent ATR inhibition underpins the clinical therapeutic benefit and indicates its wider impact on antitumor immunity.

PERSPEKTIF MAHASISWI STIQ RAKHA AMUNTAI TERHADAP PENGHAPUSAN SKRIPSI SEBAGAI TUGAS AKHIR

Thesis is a term used in Indonesia to illustrate a scientific paper in the form of a written presentation of undergraduate research results that discusses a problem or phenomenon in a particular field of science using applicable principles. The new policy issued by the Minister of Education to eliminate theses has significant implications in the world of education. Deleting a thesis can be considered a controversial step and has a wide impact, both on students, educational institutions and society in general. So in this journal the researcher aims to find out the perspective of students at the Rakha Amuntai College of Al-Qur'an Sciences (STIQ) regarding the elimination of their thesis as their final assignment. This research uses a qualitative method with a narrative research type. According to STIQ student Rakha Amuntai, according to the results of research on the deletion of theses as a final assignment, the government's policy regarding the deletion of theses is because many students think that theses are only burdensome and create unreadable piles in the library.

What next for "counseling" in genetic counseling training: Areflection on how CBT and ACT approaches can contribute to the genetic counseling toolkit.

Counseling techniques are an important component of genetic counseling training and are focused on the person-centered counseling philosophy. While this has a long tradition within the profession and underpins the empowerment goal, it should not limit consideration of the potential benefits of education on other psychotherapeutic approaches such as the cognitive philosophy. The goal of empowerment in genetic counseling requires patients to receive information in a way that is accessible to them and to make sense of it in relation to their own health, lifestyle, and family information. This assimilation of new information is a complex cognitive process, and yet it is one that genetic counselors do not routinely actively facilitate. Rather the counseling component of genetic counseling has traditionally focused on emotionally supporting the patient which is driven by the person-centered philosophy that is covered in genetic counseling training. This paper argues for the potential for adopting more cognitive approaches informed by cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), as these short interventions can have wide impact, including engaging patients who do not want to discuss feelings, helping people to make sense of information (not just gain knowledge), and helping people to change the relationship they have with their thoughts. This paper advocates for an introduction to CBT and ACT to be incorporated into prequalification training and for more advanced training to be available to postqualification genetic counselors.

What next for "counseling" in genetic counseling training: A co-production workshop exploring how CBT and ACT approaches can contribute to the genetic counseling toolkit.

Counseling techniques are an important part of genetic counseling, and teaching of the humanistic person-centered philosophy has been central to genetic counselor (GC) training. However, other psychotherapeutic approaches, especially cognitive approaches, may also be beneficial for the GC to have in their toolkit. This paper reports on a co-production workshop with newly qualified GCs where the potential for adopting more cognitive approaches informed by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was explored. Attendees were taught about the approaches and the rationale for their use in genetic counseling and had a chance to discuss their reactions and ideas for application. The attendees saw great potential for the approaches within their practice, feeling that these short interventions can have a wide impact, including engaging patients who do not want to discuss feelings, helping people to make sense of information (not just gain knowledge), and helping people to change the relationship they have with their thoughts. They were able to identify when they already use some cognitive approaches in their practice, and to see how they could build on this to provide better patient care. The paper advocates for an introduction to CBT and ACT to be incorporated into pre-qualification training, and for more advanced training to be available to post-qualification GCs.

Patient, productivity, and quality representation in healthcare non-financial disclosure

Purpose The objective of this study is to examine developments in the discursive practice of non-financial reporting in the public healthcare sector. In doing so, the authors investigate how the main reform foci of productivity and quality are represented, with a specific focus on the patient.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on critical discourse analysis (CDA), the authors conduct a longitudinal study (2007–2018) of healthcare reporting foci across the five administrative regions responsible for public hospitals in Denmark. The study analyses sixty annual reports and draws on contemporary reform documents over this period. CDA enables a micro-textual analysis, combined with macro-insights and discussions on social practice.Findings The findings show complex webs of presentation strategies, but in particular two changes occur during the period. First, the patient is centred throughout but the framing changes from productivity and waiting lists to quality and dialogue. Second, in the first years, the regions present themselves as actively highlighting financial and quality concerns, which changes to a passive and indirect form of presentation steered by indicators and patient legislation enforced by central government. This enhances passivity and distance in healthcare regional non-financial reporting where the regions seek to conform to such demands. Simultaneously, however, the authors find a tendency to highlight very different local initiatives, which shows an attempt to go beyond a pure automatic mode of reporting found in earlier studies.Originality/value Responding to the literature on both healthcare and financial reporting, this study identifies novel links between micro-level texts and macro-level social practices, enabling insights into the potentially intertwined impacts of public-sector reporting. The authors offer insights into the complexity of the construction of non-financial reporting in the public sector, which has a wider impact and different intentions than private-sector reporting.

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND GREEN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: A SYSTEMATIC STUDY IN RAIPUR DIVISION TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

This research study focuses on women entrepreneurship and green technological innovations in Raipur division, especially in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of the study is to understand how women are developing their businesses using green technologies such as organic farming, solar energy, and waste management and bringing about positive change in society. Based on primary data from 50 women entrepreneurs, this research identifies their current status, key challenges such as lack of resources, access to technology, and social barriers. It also explores opportunities such as government schemes and community support that can help women adopt green technologies. In conclusion, this study shows that women entrepreneurs have a significant contribution towards sustainable development and encouraging their innovations can have a wide positive impact on society. Policy decision makers need to take concrete steps to promote women entrepreneurship and support green technological innovations.

Assessment of Multi-Regional Comprehensive Benefits of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China

Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) projects are an effective means of addressing regional water resource imbalances. However, owing to the long construction cycle, large investment amount, and wide impact range, water diversion projects exhibit delayed and complex benefits, often lacking clear comprehension. In this study, we established a multi-regional comprehensive benefit assessment framework for the IBWT, considering spatiotemporal and multi-dimensional value effects. Using the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) in China as an example, we assessed its comprehensive benefits from 2003 to 2020. The results showed that the comprehensive benefits of the project were USD 207 billion, encompassing economic and ecological benefits, accounting for 71.6% and 28.4%, respectively. In 2020, the benefits of the SNWDP amounted to USD 39.3 billion, with a per-unit area benefit range of USD −1.03 to 4.27. The operation of the SNWDP effectively alleviated groundwater overexploitation in water-receiving areas. However, without the SNWDP, the total loss caused by industrial development limitations due to water scarcity would have been USD 154.3 billion. These results indicate the importance of a practical framework for assessing IWBT project benefits, aiding managers in assessment tasks, and facilitating the prediction and adjustment of project benefits.

Estimated Excess Deaths Due to COVID-19 Among the Urban Population of Mainland China, December 2022 to January 2023.

Mainland China experienced a major surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections in December 2022-January 2023, but its impact on mortality was unclear given the underreporting of coronavirus disease 2019 deaths. Using obituary data from the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), we estimated the excess death rate among senior CAE members by taking the difference between the observed rate of all-cause death in December 2022-January 2023 and the expected rate for the same months in 2017-2022, by age groups. We used this to extrapolate an estimate of the number of excess deaths in December 2022-January 2023 among urban dwellers in Mainland China. In December 2022-January 2023, we estimated excess death rates of 0.94 per 100 persons (95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.54, 3.16) in CAE members aged 80-84 years, 3.95 (95% CI = 0.50, 7.84) in 85-89 years, 10.35 (95% CI = 3.59, 17.71) in 90-94 years, and 16.88 (95% CI = 0.00, 34.62) in 95 years and older. Using our baseline assumptions, this extrapolated to 917,000 (95% CI = 425,000, 1.45 million) excess deaths among urban dwellers in Mainland China, much higher than the 81,000 in-hospital deaths officially reported from 9 December 2022 to 30 January 2023. As in many jurisdictions, we estimate that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic had a much wider impact on mortality than what was officially documented in Mainland China.

Decrypting the specifics of professional football club investments: Why? What? How? An integrative review

PurposeSince the beginning of the 2000s, investors have more frequently invested into professional football clubs, thereby radically changing the industry landscape. This review's purpose is to analyze and synthesize the state of research to understand motives, roles and implications of football club investors, and to provide recommendations for further research.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents an integrative literature review by identifying relevant English articles based on the search terms investor, owner, investment, ownership, shareholder and stakeholder in combination with soccer or football. Around 2,431 articles were reviewed. A total of 129 relevant articles was analyzed and synthesized within eight subject areas.FindingsInvestors in professional club football is a young research stream with a clear European focus. Investor motives and roles are diverse and implications are multidimensional. Investors mostly aim for indirect returns rather than pure profit- or win-maximization.Research limitations/implicationsFootball clubs comprise an own investment class for which the identified, unique specifics must be considered to develop a financially successful investment model. Thorough academic research of investors' inherent characteristics, investor-club pairings and the pillars of long-term strategies for successful investor-club liaisons are avenues of future research. Furthermore, the results illustrate the need for research outside of Europe.Originality/valueThe paper is the first systematic, integrative review of existing literature in the domain of equity investments into professional club football. The findings genuinely show that, depending on the investor type and ownership structure, investors have a wide impact in professional club football.

Modeling liquid transport in the Earth's mantle as two-phase flow: effect of an enforced positive porosity on liquid flow and mass conservation

Abstract. Fluid and melt transport in the solid mantle can be modeled as a two-phase flow in which the liquid flow is resisted by the compaction of the viscously deforming solid mantle. Given the wide impact of liquid transport on the geodynamical and geochemical evolution of the Earth, the so-called “compaction equations” are increasingly being incorporated into geodynamical modeling studies. When implementing these equations, it is common to use a regularization technique to handle the porosity singularity in the dry mantle. Moreover, it is also common to enforce a positive porosity (liquid fraction) to avoid unphysical negative values of porosity. However, the effects of this “capped” porosity on the liquid flow and mass conservation have not been quantitatively evaluated. Here, we investigate these effects using a series of 1- and 2-dimensional numerical models implemented using the commercial finite-element package COMSOL Multiphysics®. The results of benchmarking experiments against a semi-analytical solution for 1- and 2-D solitary waves illustrate the successful implementation of the compaction equations. We show that the solutions are accurate when the element size is smaller than half of the compaction length. Furthermore, in time-evolving experiments where the solid is stationary (immobile), we show that the mass balance errors are similarly low for both the capped and uncapped (i.e., allowing negative porosity) experiments. When Couette flow, convective flow, or subduction corner flow of the solid mantle is assumed, the capped porosity leads to overestimations of the mass of liquid in the model domain and the mass flux of liquid across the model boundaries, resulting in intrinsic errors in mass conservation even if a high mesh resolution is used. Despite the errors in mass balance, however, the distributions of the positive porosity and peaks (largest positive liquid fractions) in both the uncapped and capped experiments are similar. Hence, the capping of porosity in the compaction equations can be reasonably used to assess the main pathways and first-order distribution of fluids and melts in the mantle.

Captagon and conflict: Drugs and war on the border between Jordan and Syria

ABSTRACT Captagon is an illegal amphetamine that is widely used in the Middle East. Since the civil war started in 2011, Syria has become an international hub for Captagon production. A main Captagon trafficking route runs from Syria to the Arabian peninsula via Jordan. This has caused increasing domestic consumption of Captagon in Jordan. This article asks how Captagon trafficking and use in Jordan intersects with war in Syria and its wider impact. It illustrates how drug trafficking can be the product of violence and can also become a conduit for further violence. The article firstly analyses the drugs-conflict nexus in Syria and emphasizes Captagon trafficking as a new case study to this literature. It unpacks the role of the state in the crime-conflict nexus. The second half of the article draws on critical border studies literature to illustrate how the illegal Captagon trade has increased violence by contributing to an increasingly militarized border, with significant consequences for the communities who live and work there. The study concludes by considering the implications of Captagon trafficking for peace and stability in Syria and the region.

An analysis of risk factors and current status of depressive mood in mid-to-late adolescence and early adulthood in northern China.

At present, the incidence of adolescent depression is increasing each year, having a wide and profound impact on adolescents. This study investigated the mood state of mid-to-late adolescents and young adults and analyzed related factors; clarified the incidence of depression, suicide, and self-injurious thoughts/behaviors in this population; and conducted relevant analysis of related factors of depression and anxiety. Study subjects were students aged 14-25 years, from three high schools and one university in Liaoning Province. Study subjects were evaluated using several questionnaires that combined online and offline methods. Specifically, the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the Chinese version of the Spence Child Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and a general questionnaire were utilized. Single-factor ANOVA, t-test, Chi-square, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed that, among the 14-17-year-old subjects, the incidence of depression was 336 (14.7%), the incidence of anxiety was 763 (33.5%). Among the 18-25-year-old subjects, the incidence of depression was 34 (8.6%), the incidence of anxiety was 7 (1.8%). In the general questionnaire, 2081 (77.8%) individuals were depressed, 689 (25.8%) had thoughts of self-injury, and 323 (12.1%) had self-injurious behaviors. Among the 14-17-year-old subjects, 1789 (78.46%) were depressed, 689 (30.22%) had self-injury thoughts, and 319 (1.71%) had self-injurious behaviors. Among the 18-25-year-old subjects, 292 (73.92%) were depressed, but 4 (1.01%) had self-injurious behaviors. The incidence of depression and anxiety in adolescents is high, presenting with a certain risk of self-injury. However, age is an important factor in the occurrence of depression and anxiety; among the 18-25-year-old subjects, the incidence of depression (8.6% vs. 4.7%) and anxiety (1.8% vs. 33.5%) was lower than that among the 14-17-year-old population. Through comparative analysis, adolescents aged 14-17 remained at high risk of depression and anxiety. In the analysis of risk factors for depression and anxiety, relationships with classmates, teachers, and parents were reported as important influencing factors of emotional state. Further, a good coping style was found to be protective against depression and anxiety.

Analysis of stressoprotective properties of progesterone on an animal model of post­traumatic stress disorder

Relevance. Sex steroid hormones play a fundamental role not only in reproductive biology, regulation of emotions and mood, but also participate in maintaining proper ho-meostasis of the nervous system, acting as trophic factors and neurotransmitters, while steroids are also synthesized de novo in both central and peripheral nervous system. One of the main neurosteroids is progesterone, and its two important metabolites, namely allopregnanolone (3a,5a-tetrahydroP4) and 3a,5a-tetrahydrodeoxycorti-costerone, which due to a combination of genomic and non-genomic effects, have a wide range impact on neural cells. Aim. To analyze the stress-protective properties of progesterone on an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Materials and methods. 40 white mongrel male rats were taken for the purpose of investigation. They were divided into several investigation groups: Con — group of animals receiving intraperitoneal injection of solvent (n=10); PS — group of animals exposed to vital stress (n=10); PS+P — a group of animals exposed to vital stress and receiving an intraperitoneal oil solution of progeste-rone in a dose of 8 mg/kg (n=10) for 10 days before a stress exposure; PS+S — a group of animals exposed to vital stress receiving an intraperitoneal solution of sulpir-ide in a dose of 10 mg/kg (n=10). To simulate a psycho-traumatic event, the classical method of imaging a pred-ator was used. To record the changes in emotional-motor patterns among the control and experimental groups a battery of behavioral tests was used, Elevated Cruciform Maze, Open Field, and Porsolt test. Results. Changes in behavioral patterns were observed after administration of progesterone to animals that had been exposed to a psychotraumatic event. The impact on the “emotionali-ty” zone was characterized by a reliable increase in the number of sniffing (p≤0.05), and a significant increase of locomotor activity was also observed (p≤0.05). In the Ele-vated Cruciform Maze test, the anxiolytic effect of proges-terone was demonstrated, which consisted of a decrease in the time experimental animals spent in the closed arm of the installation and, accordingly, of an increase in the time ani mals stay in the open arm, which may indicate a decrease in the level of anxiety. Porsolt test demon-strates that the antidepressant effect of progesterone is to normalize the timing of behavioral patterns in animals exposed to a stressor. Conclusion. As a whole, the results of our study demonstrate that intraperitoneal administra-tion of an oily progesterone solution at a dose of 8 mg/kg has pronounced anxiolytic and antidepressant effects according to the results of a series of behavioral tests in the predator presentation stress model

Modeling the current and projected distribution of Brazilian peppertree Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae) in the Americas.

Global biodiversity is under substantial threat due to biological invasions, a problem exacerbated by climate change. Such invasions have detrimental effects on the environment, economy, and human health, resulting in significant financial burdens. Recently, understanding these challenges has become a highlighted priority within the scientific community. This study focuses on the evaluation of Schinus terebinthifolia, native to South America, and its invasive spread into North and Central America, which has resulted in wide distribution and considerable impact. The primary objectives of this study include analyzing the potential distribution of the species under current and future climate scenarios, identifying the areas where its climatic niche is changing. Data collection encompassed a vast dataset of over 30,000 occurrence records of this species, from the following databases: (1) The Global Biodiversity Information Facility provided 22,163 records (GBIF), (2) The virtual Herbarium Reflora contributed 1,438 records, and NeoTropTree made available 6,591 records. Following a rigorous filtering process, 992 occurrences were considered for modeling. In this process, we utilized climate data and climate projections, employing various algorithms, with an emphasis on the consensus model methodology. The research results reveal a clear trend of reduced habitat suitability for S. terebinthifolia, especially under scenarios of high global warming. This accentuates the urgency of implementing emission control measures and mitigation strategies. Additionally, the study underscores the crucial importance of continuous monitoring, as well as actions for controlling and restoring affected ecosystems. The significant role played by S. terebinthifolia in both its native and invaded areas highlights the need for comprehensive management approaches. In the face of climate change and biodiversity threats, this study provides insightful observations on the dynamics of biological invasions. Success in addressing these issues relies on close cooperation between the scientific community, policymakers, land managers, and local communities. This collaboration is essential for guiding and conducting conservation and biodiversity management efforts in an ever-evolving world.