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Peer‐assisted learning and group facilitation have been proven to foster active participation in small‐group learning, and these effective teaching modalities have been shown to enhance learning outcomes. This study introduced a student peer facilitator role in an anatomy small‐group curriculum for pre‐clerkship medical students and explored its impact on academic performance and retention. Students were required to rotate through this facilitator role and lead their small group during their designated sessions. Data collection methods included pre‐course and post‐course surveys, individual quiz grades, and retention quizzes sent 1 month after each quiz. Overall, the data revealed a significant increase in the overall combined quiz averages across the curriculum for facilitators compared to participants despite having no notable increase in preparation time (p = 0.004). While facilitators scored significantly higher on the course quizzes, the slight increase in their average retention quiz scores was not significant. This study was unable to identify any significant benefits to retention for either facilitators or participants. In all, this study suggests that a peer facilitation paradigm can be an effective educational modality for medical students, and future studies should explore ways to improve knowledge retention through this role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A species' diet is highly dependent on the availability of food resources in space and time, as well as on intrinsic factors such as sex or age. Accurate assessments of variations in the diet composition of bird populations across spatial scales, seasons and demographic groups are essential not only for understanding the basic ecology of species, but also for the conservation of endangered ones. However, our current knowledge about how birds' diet change according to spatio-temporal variations or intrinsic factors is very limited. Here, we used a multi-marker metabarcoding approach to characterize the diet of a declining shrub-steppe passerine, the Dupont's Lark (Chersophilus duponti), throughout a large part of its global distribution range. We also investigated spatial, phenological and sexual variations in its diet. Using markers from two genomic regions (18S and COI), we analyzed fecal samples from 303 adult Dupont's larks from Morocco and Spain during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Overall, arthropods from the orders Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Julida and Orthoptera were the main prey consumed by Dupont's Larks. We found that Dupont's Lark diet varied spatially, as well as temporally, reflecting dietary plasticity in response to changes in prey availability across landscapes and the species' phenological periods. High dietary overlap and no differences between sexes were observed, suggesting similar foraging behavior and nutritional requirements in both sexes. This is the first study providing detailed information on Dupont's Lark food ecology over much of its distribution, which is fundamental for the management and conservation of this declining steppe species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the past decade, the growth of accelerated three-year MD (3YMD) programs has flourished. In 2015, with support from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, the Consortium of Medical Pathway Programs (CAMPP) started with eight North American medical schools. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the current state of the 3YMD programs. Material and Methods: Since 2015, the CAMPP has tracked new and prospective 3YMD programs. An electronic survey collecting curricular and programmatic information about the programs was disseminated to all members of the CAMPP in August 2023. The survey included elements related to year of initiation, number of graduates, and curricular elements. Results: Of the schools with known established three-year MD programs, 29 of 32 programs responded (response rate 90%). There is growth of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs over time with almost 20% of United States Allopathic Medical Schools having or developing an accelerated program. There have been 817 graduates from these programs from 2013–2023. Most schools include an opportunity for a 'directed pathway' experience for students. A directed pathway is where a student completes the MD degree in three-years and then has a direct placement into an affiliated residency program, provided they meet the goals and objectives of the curriculum. Most of the schools report a mission to reduce medical student debt and build a workforce for a specialty, for a population of patients, or geographical distribution. Conclusions: Accelerated three-year medical pathway programs have grown significantly over the last decade, consistent with an overall effort to redesign medical curricula, reduce debt and contribute to the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Zoonoses are a growing threat to human health. Therefore, their surveillance is especially important in densely populated areas such as cities. Modern cities are, in fact, urban agglomerations where the population lives in urban centers and surrounding towns interspersed with agricultural land, forest patches and parks, where it is common to come into contact with several animal species, some of which may act as vectors of zoonoses. In this work, we evaluated, using molecular techniques, the zoonotic parasites carried by urban birds (White Stork, Lesser Black-backed Gull and two species of exotic parakeets), with the aim of better understanding the zoonotic risk that their faeces may pose. We detected a total of 23 genera of eukaryotic parasites, including six that are potentially harmful to human health: three fungi, one protist, and two nematodes. Our results show that the faeces of these four bird species could pose a risk to human health associated with the zoonotic parasites present in them. This should be taken into account when developing management plans for urban populations of these bird species. Synanthropic birds might play an important role as reservoirs of many zoonotic endoparasites; however, little information is available on many parasites and their prevalence. Here, we use an approach based on targeted metagenomic detection through the use of DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples to screen for circulating parasites in alien parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus and Psittacula krameri) and urban landfill-feeding storks (Ciconia ciconia) and gulls (Larus fuscus). We focus especially on potentially zoonotic parasites, with the aim of better understanding the zoonotic risk that these birds' faeces may pose. We detected a total of 23 genera of eukaryotic parasites: six fungi, three protists, five nematodes, two cestodes and seven trematodes. Among them, six stood out for their relevance to human health: Cryptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. (fungi); Cryptosporidium spp. (a protist); and Ascaris spp. and Halicephalobus spp. (nematodes). In parakeets, we detected Cryptococcus spp. and Ascaris spp., the latter being detected in 10–20% of the samples. In the White Stork and the Lesser Black-backed Gull, we found a high prevalence of Aspergillus spp. (in 15% and 50% of the samples, respectively) and Candida spp. (in 63% and 82% of the samples, respectively), and the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in 10% of the samples. We detected Halicephalobus spp. in one gull sample (2%). Our results show that synanthropic birds may act as vectors and reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and their faeces could pose a risk to human health associated with the zoonotic parasites present in them. This should be taken into account when developing management plans for urban populations of these bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Territorial defence depends on highly interrelated factors such as food abundance and conspecific density. We used Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti as a model species to evaluate the response of a territorial bird to a foreign male playback, examining how conspecific density, habitat quality and male body condition impact responses. The study was conducted in central Spain with variable male density. Response (yes/no), latency time, distance to the playback speaker, and the number of songs and other vocalizations were monitored for 5 min. Habitat quality was estimated using BlueNDVI vegetation index extracted from high‐resolution drone imagery, which is a proxy for arthropod prey biomass. Conspecific density (Kernel Density Estimator) and male body condition were calculated to assess their effect on response and intensity. We applied generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to determine which factors predicted the response and its intensity. There was a greater response probability in areas with a higher density of conspecifics and in areas of poorer habitat quality (i.e. lower BlueNDVI values). In contrast, latency time was longer in areas with lower conspecific density. Intrasexual communication (singing and calling rates) increased with habitat quality. Intraspecific communication (other vocalizations) increased in poorer quality habitats and at a higher density of conspecifics. Body condition was not related to any variables. Our results suggest that male density, sometimes used as an indicator of an area being well conserved for the species, may reflect areas of poorer habitat quality occupied by unpaired floater males, whereas paired territorial males would occupy and defend higher quality areas, leading to lower density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) has become the second renewable energy source, giving rise to potential conflicts with biodiversity conservation. However, the information available about the impacts and mitigation measures of solar PV energy is scarce and scattered, and a rigorous and comprehensive review on the topic is lacking. Here, we review the state of knowledge on its impacts and mitigation measures and identify main knowledge gaps. For that, we reviewed more than 2000 articles, out of which only 180 assessed the impacts of solar PV (N = 138) and/or propose mitigation measures (65). Even though Asia and Europe head the list of regions with the highest PV installed capacity (59% and 22%, respectively), a large portion of the existing knowledge is drawn from North American environmental contexts (48% of the studies), specifically from deserts (41%). Impacts were addressed on plants (26%), arthropods (14%), birds (10%), microorganisms (10%), reptiles (7%), mammals (4%), and bats (1%), but also on abiotic factors (e.g., humidity and temperature; 20%) and ecosystem services (3%). Most studies addressed the impact of PV on habitat alteration at landscape (33%) and microhabitat scale (20%), and on microclimate at microhabitat scale (17%), but other topics have been scarcely addressed (e.g., impact on microclimate at landscape scale or the potential of agrivoltaic systems). Lastly, 53% of the studies employed a single PV facility, and preconstruction situations were rarely reported (8%). There is a strong environmental context bias in the current understanding of PV impacts, which might not be extrapolable to other environmental situations like farmlands, where most of the solar PV capacity is being installed. Moreover, standardized and robust sampling designs are lacking to address cumulative, long‐term, and long‐scale impacts and produce comparable findings across contexts. Given the lack of empirical evidence and the irrepressible development of PV energy, it is advisable to apply an iterative monitoring and adaptive process to guarantee a safe energy transition. This review may provide useful guidance on prioritizing research efforts for a smooth shift to renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal of individuals and gene flow are crucial aspects to maintain genetic diversity and viability of populations, especially in the case of threatened species. Landscape composition and structure may facilitate or limit individual movement within and among populations. We used a landscape genetics approach to assess the connectivity patterns of the threatened Dupont's lark (Chersophilus duponti subsp. duponti), considering their genetic patterns and the landscape features associated with its gene flow in Spain. We analysed the genetic relatedness based on 11 species‐specific polymorphic microsatellites on 416 Dupont's lark individuals sampled across peninsular Spain between 2017 and 2019, covering most of the European distribution of the species. To assess the relationship between the landscape composition and the species gene flow, we estimated genetic distance at the individual level (Dps). Next, we built a set of environmental surfaces from two time periods (years 1990 and 2018), based on factors such as land use and topography, influencing individuals' movement. We then obtained resistance surfaces from an optimization process on landscape variables. Landscape genetics analyses were done for single and composite surface models for each year separately. Our findings from both time points show that scatter or mosaic‐structured vegetation composed by low agricultural and tree cover and high presence of sclerophyllous shrubs favoured Dupont's lark dispersal, while dense and continuous tree cover, as well as areas of intensive agriculture, were limiting factors. Our results suggest the importance of steppe habitat patches for the species' establishment and dispersal. In addition, our results provide key information to develop conservation measures, including conserving and restoring steppe habitats as scattered and/or mosaic‐structured vegetation that could warrant the connectivity and persistence of Dupont's lark populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition is a prominent mechanism driving population dynamics and structuring community assemblage, which can be investigated by linking shifts in species' ecological niche and the densities of sympatric species because the ecological release from competitive constraints is a density‐dependent process. In this work we determine how a steppe passerine community segregates their ecological niches and evaluate the role of competition in inducing changes in the ecological niche of species. We built multidimensional ecological niches (with Gaussian kernel density estimators) using data on the habitat features used by 10 bird species collected from seven sites in the natural steppes of Central Spain over 2 consecutive years. We computed distance and niche similarity metrics to explore the ecological niche partitioning of the bird community. Next, we ran multivariate linear regression models to evaluate the effects of conspecific and heterospecific density (as proxies of intraspecific and interspecific competition, respectively) on niche breadth and/or position of the three most abundant species. We found low niche overlap in the community assemblage but varying levels of niche similarity among pairs of species, which could increase the likelihood of current competition operating in the community. However, we found no effect of heterospecific density on niche breadth or position, although conspecific density was negatively related to niche breadth. Contrary to predictions of competition theory, increased density of conspecifics caused niche contraction. Our results from a multispecies system contribute to advanced knowledge of the biotic mechanisms structuring wildlife communities within the framework of ecological niche theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our objective is the description of the technique of vagus nerve stimulation in carotid triangle in order to monitor the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Methods: We stimulated the vagus nerve in the carotid triangle during 150 thyroid or parathyroid surgeries using a monopolar electromyography electrode inserted under the mastoid process towards the jugular foramen as a cathode, and using another subdermal electrode in the mastoid as an anode. Another complementary method of vagus stimulation was achieved with a pair of subdermal electrodes, placing the cathode at the mandibular angle and the anode at the mastoid. Results: In all patients, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was recorded in the vocal cords with both stimulation techniques, allowing semi-continuous monitoring to be carried out. Intraoperative lesions were detected in 16 of the cases; 9 of them were transient with CMAP recovery achieved when modifying surgical maneuvers. Conclusions: Vagus nerve stimulation in the carotid triangle is a reliable technique for monitoring the RLN in thyroid surgery. Vagus nerve stimulation in the carotid triangle is effective and safe for RLN monitoring, and it is a clear alternative to direct continuous stimulation of the nerve that by contrast requires its dissection in the carotid sheath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a special issue of the journal Cognitive Linguistic Studies, featuring selected papers from a conference on Cognitive Linguistics. The issue focuses on the cognitive approaches to the study of language and society, with contributions from renowned and emerging scholars. The articles cover various topics, including metaphor, metonymy, similes, irony, embodiment, categorization, and prototypicality. The research presented in this issue aims to enhance our understanding of the impact of cognitive processes on language structure and social communication. [Extracted from the article]

A 13-year-old male was diagnosed with a glenoid fracture following direct shoulder trauma, for which surgical treatment was considered. After referral to a center for pediatric orthopedic care, physical examination, contralateral shoulder X-ray, and detailed computed tomography examination ruled out the presence of fracture; these findings were later confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Normal ossification patterns in the adolescent shoulder may simulate a fracture in traumatic settings. To accurately diagnose and manage pediatric shoulder pathology, orthopedic surgeons must be aware of the normal anatomy of the growing shoulder, its secondary ossification centers, and growth plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trophic niche partitioning is a mechanism that facilitates the coexistence of ecologically similar species by sharing their resource use. However, detailed information of the trophic niche in insectivorous birds is usually limited by the lack of accurate identification of consumed food resources. The use of DNA metabarcoding has proved useful for molecular identification of the taxa present in bird faecal samples. Here, we used this molecular technique to study the diets of six steppe passerine species distributed in two Special Protection Areas in central Spain, and to characterize the dietary niche overlap and the prey composition differences between bird species. In total, we distinguished 112 diet items, covering 39 arthropod families of 13 orders. Although significant dietary differences existed in prey species composition, our results indicated a 74% overlap in steppe bird dietary niche, mostly due to high consumption of abundant arthropod prey such as beetles, grasshoppers and spiders in the breeding season by all bird species. The lowest overlap was found for the dietary niches of the Greater Short‐toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla and Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti, a scarce and threatened species, which appeared to be the species with the most distinct dietary niche within the community. Our results make a significant contribution to the knowledge of shrub‐steppe bird diets and their trophic interactions, indicating that some extent of interspecific resource partitioning occurs in the study area, notably between Dupont's Lark and the Greater Short‐toed Lark. Our study demonstrates the value of DNA metabarcoding in the assessment of passerine diets and provides useful ecological results for the design of biodiversity conservation programmes in the increasingly scarce and threatened steppe habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial co‐occurrence patterns are determined by environmental factors, such as food availability or habitat characteristics and by biotic associations. When resources are limited, competition which implies a dominant hierarchy can shape species assemblage. Here, we study space and time co‐occurrence of steppe passerines during the breeding season in a natural steppe habitat, its modulation by environmental filtering, potential biotic interactions and random processes. We applied the joint species distribution model of hierarchical modelling of species community (HMSC) to data on species presence–absence and environmental, temporal and spatial covariates acquired from seven plots in a natural steppe in central Spain during two consecutive years. Our results reveal the patterns of bird species co‐occurrence and suggest that this assemblage might be competitively structured. The assemblage appears to be configured around one dominant species, the Eurasian skylark, which establishes principally negative associations with many of the coexistent species. Our results contribute to the understanding of how competition and dominance processes, together with ecological constraints and other biotic associations, shape bird assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non cooperative on-orbit operations, such as rendezvous, docking or berthing operations, have become more relevant, mainly due to the necessity of expanding mission lifetimes, the increase of space debris and the reduction of human dependency. In order to automate these operations, the relative pose calculation between the target and the chaser must be determined autonomously. In recent years, LiDAR sensors have been introduced for this problem, achieving good accuracies. The critical part of this operation is the first relative pose calculation, since there is no previous information about the attitude of the target. In this work, a methodology to carry out this first relative pose calculation using LiDAR sensors is presented. A template matching algorithm has been developed, which uses the 3D model of the target to calculate the relative pose of the target regarding the LiDAR sensor. Three different study cases, with different distances and rotations, have been simulated in order to validate the algorithm, reaching an average error of 0.0383m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rocznik Polsko-Niemiecki is the property of Instytut Studiow Politycznych PAN and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events represent a threat for biological diversity and are expected to increase in many regions over the following decades due to climate change. Our current knowledge about the impact of extreme weather events on the population dynamics of bird species is very limited. Here, we evaluated the impact of an extreme winter snowstorm on the abundance of 14 populations of the threatened Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti , a resident bird whose European population is restricted to Spain. We found a drastic and significant population decline in the next reproductive season following the extreme weather event. During the control period (2017–2020) the species suffered an overall annual decline of 19.4% (±5.0, SE). However, the overall annual decline after the storm was 67.6% (±9.4, period 2019–2021), with a mean decline of 66.5% (±15.9) for seven populations monitored both the year before and the year after the snowstorm (period 2020–2021). The snow covered the ground for over 10 days in central and eastern Spain, which together with a subsequent extreme cold wave could have reduced the species ability to find food resources and properly thermoregulate, forcing the species to move to unknown areas. Indeed a few days after the storm, several individuals were reported in areas typically avoided. Such displacements may increase the mortality risk for dispersing individuals, besides the direct effects of the extreme cold event, such as thermal challenges to energy balance or a reduced immune function. We discuss the potential role that extreme weather events may have on the population dynamics and conservation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Adult sex ratios (ASRs) have proved to correlate with population trends, which make them potential useful indicators of a species' population trajectory and conservation status. We analysed ASRs and proportion of juveniles in flocks of an endangered steppe bird, the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax , using surveys made during the non-breeding period in seven areas within its Western European range (one in Portugal, four in Spain, and two in France). We found overall male-biased ASRs, as all the seven surveyed areas showed a male-biased ASR mean value. Five areas were below the threshold median value (female sex ratio = 0.4) considered to be consistent with an increased probability of extinction, according to earlier population viability analyses for the species. We also found a significant positive correlation between female ratio and the proportion of young individuals in the non-breeding flocks surveyed. Our results (strongly male-biased ASRs) support the hypothesis that the viability of Little Bustard populations in Western Europe is threatened by an excess of female mortality, something that should be quantified in the future, and emphasise the value of monitoring sex ratio as a population viability indicator in species where monitoring survival is difficult to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espanola de Linguistica is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Linguistica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monitoring temporal dynamics in genetic diversity is of great importance for conservation, especially for threatened species that are suffering a rapid population decline and increased fragmentation. Here, we investigate temporal variation in genetic diversity, structure, and gene flow in the Dupont's lark (Chersophilus duponti) across most of its range. This species shows increasing levels of population fragmentation, substantial population declines, and severe range contraction, so temporal losses of genetic diversity, increasing differentiation, and decreasing gene flow are expected when comparing present day data with previous situations. To address this, we resampled sites (nine regions in two countries) after 12–15 years (five-to-seven generations) and assessed changes in genetic parameters using 11 microsatellite markers. We found no substantial loss in genetic diversity over time at the species level, but we detected considerable variation among regions in the amount of allelic diversity and heterozygosity lost over time. Temporal variation in allele frequencies (common, rare, and private alleles), and changes in genetic differentiation and gene flow over time suggest a major role of connectivity for the stability of the overall metapopulation. Our results agree with the hypothesis that connectivity rescues genetic diversity via immigration and gene flow. However, evidence of recent genetic bottleneck and the substantial changes detected in some regions are clear signs of genetic erosion and may be signalling a rapid decline of the populations. Urgent actions must be carried out to stop and reverse human impacts on this threatened lark and its habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropod biomass is a key element in ecosystem functionality and a basic food item for many species. It must be estimated through traditional costly field sampling, normally at just a few sampling points. Arthropod biomass and plant productivity should be narrowly related because a large majority of arthropods are herbivorous, and others depend on these. Quantifying plant productivity with satellite or aerial vehicle imagery is an easy and fast procedure already tested and implemented in agriculture and field ecology. However, the capability of satellite or aerial vehicle imagery for quantifying arthropod biomass and its relationship with plant productivity has been scarcely addressed. Here, we used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite Sentinel‐2 (S2) imagery to establish a relationship between plant productivity and arthropod biomass estimated through ground‐truth field sampling in shrub steppes. We UAV‐sampled seven plots of 47.6–72.3 ha at a 4‐cm pixel resolution, subsequently downscaling spatial resolution to 50 cm resolution. In parallel, we used S2 imagery from the same and other dates and locations at 10‐m spatial resolution. We related several vegetation indices (VIs) with arthropod biomass (epigeous, coprophagous, and four functional consumer groups: predatory, detritivore, phytophagous, and diverse) estimated at 41–48 sampling stations for UAV flying plots and in 67–79 sampling stations for S2. VIs derived from UAV were consistently and positively related to all arthropod biomass groups. Three out of seven and six out of seven S2‐derived VIs were positively related to epigeous and coprophagous arthropod biomass, respectively. The blue normalized difference VI (BNDVI) and enhanced normalized difference VI (ENDVI) showed consistent and positive relationships with arthropod biomass, regardless of the arthropod group or spatial resolution. Our results showed that UAV and S2‐VI imagery data may be viable and cost‐efficient alternatives for quantifying arthropod biomass at large scales in shrub steppes. The relationship between VI and arthropod biomass is probably habitat‐dependent, so future research should address this relationship and include several habitats to validate VIs as proxies of arthropod biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a diachronic corpus-based investigation into onomasiological variation, this study has two main objectives. First, the paper analyses the evolution of the concept of sweet-smelling as a whole – that is, as instantiated by the three near-synonymous adjectives, fragrant, perfumed and scented, with a focus on language-external pressures for distributional changes. There seems to exist variation over time in the nouns that the concept typically collocates with, going from nouns referring to entities with a natural, pleasant smell to entities with an artificial agreeable aroma. It is here argued that this change is motivated by the social and technological transformations experienced by American society after the First and Second Industrial Revolutions, a claim that finds preliminary empirical support in the distribution from 1820 to 2009 of a series of lexical indicators from the semantic domains of cleaning, cosmetics and textile & clothing. Second, the distribution over time of the three adjectives is examined. The data point to a reorganisation concerning the internal semantic structure of the synonym set, with scented gaining ground at the expense of fragrant and perfumed in several contexts of use. Furthermore, the adjectives exhibit highly idiosyncratic collocational preferences, which go a long way towards explaining the alternation between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles has become a priority for the advancement of nanotechnology. In attempts to create these nanoparticles, several different methods: chemistry, physics, and biology, have all been used. In this study, we report the reduction of cations using argon plasma chemistry to produce nanoparticles of gold (AuNPs), silver (AgNPs), and copper (CuNPs). Although other groups have used plasma-reduction methods to synthesize metal nanoparticles from their cation counterparts, these approaches often require plasma‖liquid state interactions, high temperature, specific combinations of gases, and extended treatment times (>10 minutes), for which only specific cations (noble or non-noble) may be reduced. As a result, we have developed a non-thermal, low-pressure argon-plasma‖solid state approach for the reduction of both noble and non-noble cations. More specifically, when 50 μL droplets of 2 mM solutions of gold(III) chloride, silver nitrate, or copper(II) sulfate are exposed to vacuum, they undergo an evaporation process. As the pressure in the chamber decreases to 220 mTorr, the droplets become completely evaporated, leaving behind a metal precursor. Nucleation and growth studies reveal that when the metal precursors of gold(III) chloride, silver nitrate, and copper(II) sulfate are treated with 80 watts of argon plasma for 5, 60, and 150 seconds, respectively, nanoparticles could be synthesized with efficiency rates of upwards of 98%. The size of nanoparticles synthesized in this work was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy, and the scattering properties of the nanoparticles was studied using UV/Vis spectroscopy. Transmission Electron Microscopy with corresponding elemental analysis was also very useful in confirming the identity of the synthesized nanoparticles. The results from this study reveal that we have synthesized metal nanoparticles with distinct chemical and physical properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy depicts AgNPs with a round-shape and diameters from 40–80 nm, while AuNPs were hexagonal, with sizes from 40–80 nm, and CuNPs were rod-shaped, with dimensions 40 by 160 nm. Our findings demonstrate that the argon plasma approach used in this study is a rapid, green, and versatile reduction method for the synthesis of both noble and non-noble metal nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interspecific brood or nest parasitism is a relatively common breeding behavior in birds. Through this reproductive tactic, brood-parasites avoid the costs associated with raising and maintaining chicks by laying their eggs in the nests of the host species in which they are specialized. The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) follows this brood parasite strategy. Female cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, mimicking egg shape, size, and color of the host species. In this paper we report the first documented case of parasitism of tawny pipit nests by the common cuckoo in Spanish steppe habitats, where no record of parasitism on this species has been reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the context of marked health disparities affecting historically marginalized communities, medical schools have an obligation to rapidly scale up COVID-19 education through the lens of structural racism. Aim: To develop and implement a virtual curriculum on structural racism in a required COVID-19 course for medical students using "just-in-time" training. Setting: Academic medical institution during the height of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020. Participants: Three hundred ninety-three 3rd and 4th-year medical students prior to re-entry into clinical care. Program Description: Three educational sessions focused on (1) racial health disparities, (2) othering and pandemics, and (3) frameworks to address health inequity. The virtual teaching methods included narrated recorded presentations, reflections, and student-facilitated small group dialogue. Program Evaluation: In matched pre- and post-surveys, participants reported significant changes in their confidence in achieving the learning objectives and high satisfaction with small group peer facilitation. Discussion: The use of "just-in-time" training exploring the intersection between COVID-19 and structural racism facilitated the delivery of time-relevant and immediately clinically applicable content as students were preparing to re-enter a transformed clinical space. Similar approaches can be employed to adapt to changing healthcare landscapes as academic medical centers strive to build more equitable health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Iberian natural steppes have traditionally been used for extensive sheep grazing, which has been noted to be positively associated with steppe bird abundance and diversity. Sheep numbers in Spain, which harbors the largest European populations of many steppe bird species, decreased by 9.2 million (37.3%) between 1992 and 2020. Steppe birds in Spain have faced dramatic declines during the same period, but there is a lack of knowledge about the potential association between sheep and open-habitat bird declines. We used sheep data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and bird data (1998-2018) from the Spanish Common Bird Monitoring Program to assess the association at the Spanish scale between sheep decline and the Farmland Bird Index (FBI) and the Natural Shrub-steppe Bird Index (SBI). We also used an independent dataset on population trends of the Dupont's Lark (Chersophilus duponti) to assess the relationship between sheep numbers and the decline of this threatened steppe specialist passerine in Spain, whose European population is restricted to Iberian natural steppes. To test for a spurious relationship between temporal series, variables were tested for cointegration. After confirming cointegration, we found a strong positive relationship between sheep abundance and the trends of the FBI and SBI indices during the period 1998-2018. The association between sheep abundance and trends of the Dupont's Lark (2004-2015) was positive although it was not statistically significant. Although the main causes of decline of farmland and steppe birds are mainly related to agricultural intensification and land use changes, the correlation found, using two independent cointegrated datasets, between the reduction in farmland and shrub-steppe birds and sheep numbers at the country scale suggests that the decline of steppe birds in Spain may be also associated with the decline in sheep numbers. This agrees with previous studies that found a positive relationship between intermediate levels of sheep grazing and steppe bird abundance in Iberian steppes. Further research (e.g. experimental studies) is needed to corroborate our study and identify the most appropriate level of grazing intensity for protecting the most farmland and shrub-steppe birds. Our results suggest that the promotion of extensive grazing should be considered as a key factor in future Common Agricultural Policy reforms and conservation programmes to protect steppe birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma-initiated free radical polymerization was used to engineer carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) with tailored chemical and physical properties. Following surface modification, CNPs were loaded with a highly effective anti-infection agent called metal-free Russian propolis ethanol extract (MFRPEE), thus, creating nano-based drug delivery systems (NBDDSs). The loading of MFRPEE onto grafted CNPs occurred naturally through both electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. When constructed under optimal experimental conditions, the NBDDSs were stable under physiologic conditions, and demonstrated enhanced anti-biofilm activity when compared with free MFRPEE. Mechanistic studies revealed that the enhanced anti-infectious activity of the NBDDSs was attributed to the modified surface chemistry of grafted CNPs. More specifically, the overall positive surface charge on grafted CNPs, which stems from quaternary ammonium polymer brushes covalently bound to the CNPs, provides NBDDSs with the ability to specifically target negatively charged components of biofilms. When studying the release profile of MFRPEE from the modified CNPs, acidic components produced by a biofilm triggered the release of MFRPEE bound to the NBDDS. Once in its free form, the anti-infectious properties of MFRPEE became activated and damaged the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM) of the biofilm. Once the architecture of the biofilm became compromised, the EPM was no longer capable of protecting the bacteria encapsulated within the biofilm from the anti-infectious agent. Consequently, exposure of bacteria to MFRPEE led to bacterial cell death and biofilm inactivation. The results obtained from this study begin to examine the potential application of NBDDSs for the treatment of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in medical student learning preferences help drive innovation in teaching and require schools and commercial resources to quickly adapt. However, few studies have detailed the relationship of learner preferences to the environment and teaching modalities used in the pre-clerkship years, nor do they incorporate third-party resources. Our study attempts to analyze learner preferences by comparing the use of traditional and third-party resources. In 2017–18, a survey was distributed to medical students and residents at two accredited medical schools. Participants noted preferred styles of learning regarding lecture duration, timing, location, format, third-party resources, learner types and USMLE Step 1 scores. The 'Learning Environment, Learning Processes, and Learning Outcomes' (LEPO) framework [5] was used to examine learner preferences, with responses compared using the Mann-Whitney U and two proportion z-tests. A total of 329 respondents completed the survey: 62.7% medical students and 37.3% residents. The majority of participants identified their learning style by Kolb [6] as converging (33.0%) or accommodating (39.2%). Students preferred lectures 30–40 minutes long (43.3%), during morning hours (54.2%), in their own homes (52.0%), via online lectures with simultaneous drawings (56.0%), and classroom/podcast lectures with PowerPoint® presentations (54.3%). Overall, students rated third-party resource characteristics higher than traditional curricula, including effectiveness of teachers, length, quality, time of day, and venue (p < 0.001), but also preferred small group formats. Students reported animated videos (46.6%) and simultaneous drawings (46.5%) as the most effective means of retaining information. Understanding changing learner preferences is important in creating optimal curricula for today's students. Using the LEPO framework, this study identifies critical preferences in successfully teaching medical students, inclusive of commercial and traditional resources. These results can also help guide changes in pedagogy necessary due to the more recent COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steppe lands in Europe are critically affected by habitat loss and fragmentation, and hold over 50% of IUCN Red List bird species in Europe. Dupont's Lark is a threatened steppe-specialist passerine whose European geographic range is restricted to Spain, with less than 2000 pairs and an annual population decline of − 3.9%. Its strongly fragmented habitat leads to a metapopulation structure in the Iberian Peninsula that includes 24 populations and 100 subpopulations. We present an updated Population Viability Analysis based on the latest scientific knowledge regarding distribution, population trends, breeding biology and connectivity. Our results predict metapopulation extinction in 2–3 decades, through a centripetal contraction process from the periphery to the core. The probability of extinction in 20 years was 84.2%, which supports its relisting to Endangered in Spain following IUCN criteria. We carried out a sensitivity analysis showing that some parameters, especially productivity and survival of adults and juveniles, help to increase metapopulation viability. Simulation of management scenarios showed that habitat restoration in a subset of key subpopulations had a positive effect on the overall metapopulation persistence. Translocations of a limited number of individuals from source to recipient locations may help to rescue the most endangered subpopulations without reducing the global time to extinction of the metapopulation. In addition, we identified the most critical areas for action, where local populations of the species are prone to extinction. This work suggests that the viability of the Dupont's Lark metapopulation could be improved and its risk of extinction reduced if urgent and localized conservation measures are applied. In the short-term, habitat loss and fragmentation due to ploughing, reforestation and infrastructures implementation in Dupont's Lark habitat must be avoided. Habitat restoration and translocations could help to avoid imminent extinction of critical subpopulations. Restoration of extensive grazing is recommended as the most effective way to achieve the long-term conservation of Dupont's Lark in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a diachronic analysis of the attributive uses of four synonymous adjectives which designate the concept of sweet-smelling (fragrant, perfumed, scented, and sweet-smelling) in the latter part of Late Modern and Present-day American English. By drawing on data from the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA) and applying a Hierarchical Configural Frequency Analysis (HCFA), it delineates the internal semantic structure of this set of synonyms, paying special attention to their noun collocates. The results show that the concept of sweet-smelling experiences major changes over the time span examined (1850–2009), from being used mostly to qualify entities which can exhibit a natural pleasant smell (e.g. flowers and trees) to modifying objects which are artificially sweet-smelling (e.g. oils and shampoos). Moreover, fragrant and perfumed, which initially were the most frequent adjectives, are gradually replaced by scented, thus reflecting a change in the relation between the synonyms over time. The study constitutes the first diachronic approximation to synonymy from the perspective of cognitive semantics and provides equally effective results as previous synchronic research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dupont’s Lark is an endangered bird, whose fragmented distribution in Europe is entirely restricted to Spain. This lark, suffering pronounced population decline and range contraction, inhabits steppes that have long been used for grazing sheep and are now threatened by rural abandonment and land use changes. Thus, for conservation of the lark, increasing knowledge about the connectivity of the Spanish metapopulation and identifying the most important connectivity nodes are crucial. Methods: The study was carried out in Spain, using over 16,000 Dupont’s Lark georeferenced observations. We used distance buffers to define populations and subpopulations, based on the available scientific information. We identified potential stepping stones using a MaxEnt probability of presence model. Connectivity was assessed using Conefor software, using the centroid of each subpopulation and stepping stone as nodes. Each node was assigned a quantitative attribute based on total habitat area, within-node habitat quality and internal fragmentation. We evaluated different connectivity scenarios by potential movement thresholds (5–20–100 km) and presence or absence of stepping stones in the network. Results: Dupont’s Lark Iberian metapopulation comprises 24 populations and 100 subpopulations, plus 294 potential stepping stones. Movement thresholds and stepping stones had a strong influence in the potential network connectivity. The most important nodes are located in the core of the metapopulation, which shows connectivity among subpopulations in the different indices and scenarios evaluated. Peripheral populations are more isolated and require stepping stones or medium (20 km) or long (100 km) potential movement thresholds to join the network. Discussion: Metapopulation connectivity may be greater than expected, thanks to stepping stones and potential medium-distance movements. Connectivity is crucial for conservation and can be increased by preserving or improving adequate habitat in the most important nodes. Given the current species decline, steppe habitat should be urgently protected from land use changes and agriculture intensification, at least in the critical subpopulations and stepping stones. Long-term conservation of steppe lands and Dupont’s Lark in Spain requires the recovery of traditional grazing and more research on juvenile dispersion. Meanwhile, the conservation of potentially critical stepping stones should be incorporated to management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive acoustic monitoring is a non‐invasive tool for automated wildlife monitoring. This technique has several advantages and addresses many of the biases related to traditional field surveys. However, locating animal sounds using autonomous recording units (ARUs) can be technically challenging and therefore ARUs have traditionally been little employed to estimate animal density. Nonetheless, several approaches have been proposed in recent years to carry out acoustic‐based bird density estimations. We conducted a literature review of studies that used ARUs for estimating bird densities or bird abundances in order to describe the applications and improve future monitoring programmes. We detected a growing interest in the use of ARUs for estimating bird density in the last 6 years (2014–19), with a total of 31 articles assessing the topic. The most common approach was to estimate the relationship between the number of vocalizations per recording time with bird density or bird abundance estimated in the field (61%). In 26 studies (79%), bird estimates obtained by human surveyors agreed with those obtained using ARUs. Some approaches have proven able to reduce biases in acoustic surveys, such as considering imperfect detection (spatially explicit capture–recapture, using microphone arrays), applying paired acoustic sampling to control for different sampling radius between humans and ARUs, or including relative sound level measurements that allow researchers to estimate bird distance to recorder. However, several studies did not include any covariates to reduce existing biases and some did not estimate the sampling radius of the recorder, which may hamper future comparisons between human and ARU surveys. Future studies should include a measurement of the sampling radius of the recorder employed to be able to obtain density estimations using ARUs. Finally, we provide some guidelines to improve the applicability of ARUs to infer bird population estimates in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind farm implementation is a rapidly growing source of landscape transformation that may alter ecological processes such as predator–prey interactions. We tested the hypothesis that wind farms increase the activity of nest predators and, ultimately, increment ground-nest predation rates. We placed 18 plots in Iberian shrub-steppes (11 at control and seven at wind farm sites), each one comprised nine artificial ground-nests (three quail eggs/nest). Artificial nests were placed during two events: at the beginning (April) and at the end (June) of the breeding season in 2016 (n = 324 artificial nests). We estimated the relative abundance of avian and large mammalian predators in the surroundings of each plot and recorded nest fate after 12 days exposure. We also measured variables at landscape and microhabitat scale that potentially affect predator abundance and nest predation. Wind farm sites contained higher cover of gravel roads and more large mammalian predators. Moreover, the abundance of large mammalian predators increased with surrounding cover of both trees and gravel-roads. Avian predator abundance and nest predation rates did not differ between control and wind farm sites, though nest predation did increase with the surrounding cover of crops and gravel roads. Lastly, nest predation was higher at the end of the breeding season and decreased with moss and lichen cover. Our results support previous evidence on the increase of mammalian predator abundance as the surface area of gravel-roads increases, pointing towards a potential mechanism for wind farms leading to rise ground-nest predation. Future wind energy projects should minimize the development of gravel-roads for wind turbine access or maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constitutive activity of the immune surveillance system detects and kills cancerous cells, although many cancers have developed strategies to avoid detection and to resist their destruction. Cancer immunotherapy entails the manipulation of components of the endogenous immune system as targeted approaches to control and destroy cancer cells. Since one of the major limitations for the antitumor activity of immune cells is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), boosting the immune system to overcome the inhibition provided by the TME is a critical component of oncotherapeutics. In this article, we discuss the main effects of the TME on the metabolism and function of immune cells, and review emerging strategies to potentiate immune cell metabolism to promote antitumor effects either as monotherapeutics or in combination with conventional chemotherapy to optimize cancer management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mice, time of day strongly influences lethality in response to LPS, with survival greatest at the beginning compared to the end of the light cycle. Here we show that feeding, rather than light, controls time-of-day dependent LPS sensitivity. Mortality following LPS administration is independent of cytokine production and the clock regulator BMAL1 expressed in myeloid cells. In contrast, deletion of BMAL1 in hepatocytes globally disrupts the transcriptional response to the feeding cycle in the liver and results in constitutively high LPS sensitivity. Using RNAseq and functional validation studies we identify hepatic farnesoid X receptor (FXR) signalling as a BMAL1 and feeding-dependent regulator of LPS susceptibility. These results show that hepatocyte-intrinsic BMAL1 and FXR signalling integrate nutritional cues to regulate survival in response to innate immune stimuli. Understanding hepatic molecular programmes operational in response to these cues could identify novel pathways for targeting to enhance endotoxemia resistance. Time of day influences immune responses and lethality in response to LPS, with survival greatest at the beginning compared to the end of the light cycle. Here the authors show that feeding, rather than light, controls time-of-day dependent LPS sensitivity through the liver clock and hepatic FXR signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social prey species respond to predation risk by modifying habitat selection and grouping behaviour. These responses may depend on both actual predation risk (predator probability of occurrence) and/or on perceived predation risk associated with habitat structure. Other factors like food availability and co‐occurrence with other species may also affect habitat selection and group formation. We analyse habitat selection and grouping behaviour (group size and cohesion) of lesser rhea (Rhea pennata subsp. pennata), a ratite endemic of South America inhabiting steppe shrublands and grasslands, in relation to actual (puma probability of occurrence) and perceived (habitat structure: openness, visibility) predation risk, co‐occurrence with other herbivore species and forage availability in the Chilean Patagonia. We used data from 9 sampling seasons in 5 years. Results show that habitat selection, group size and cohesion in lesser rhea were mainly driven by variables associated with perceived predation risk and by co‐occurrence with other herbivores both during breeding and non–breeding season. As expected, lesser rhea preferred open habitats (vegas and grasslands) that allow a behaviour of 'watch and run' to avoid predation and formed larger groups in them. Moreover, lesser rhea positively selected year‐round habitats where livestock occur, forming large groups during non–breeding season there. Group size and co‐occurrence with other herbivores significantly decreased group cohesion, suggesting a reduction of perceived predation risk. Therefore, lesser rhea seems to take advantage of forming mixed interspecific groups to reduce predation risk. These results suggest that lesser rhea habitat selection and grouping behaviour are preferentially driven by factors related to perceived predation risk than by actual predator occurrence or food availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In the Iberian Peninsula, high and flat areas called 'paramos' are of great ecological interest, due to their unique but little known plant and animal communities. In this work, we contribute to the knowledge of plant composition and carry out a classification of plant communities in central Iberian natural 'paramos'. Study area: Two Special Areas of Conservation (Natura 2000 Network) in Southern Soria (Spain): 'Altos de Barahona' and 'Páramo de Layna'. Methods: We sampled the vegetation (plant cover) in 345 plots of 1 m2 in the two 'paramos' considered. A hierarchical agglomerative clustering of samples and an indicator value (IndVal) analysis were performed to classify the plant communities and to determine the most characteristic species of each community. Results: A total of 193 species, mainly chamaephytes, were found. Most of these are species of Mediterranean biogeographical affinity, with a high percentage of Iberian endemism. Plots were hierarchically classified into three main clusters, which in turn, successfully aggregated into seven subclusters reflecting characteristic visually-known plant communities of these 'paramos': grassland-thyme scrublands of Thymus mastigophorus; savory scrublands of Satureja intricata; two types of mixed communities dominated by continental basophilic shrubs; gorse shrublands of Genista pumila subsp. rigidissima; praire-thyme scrublands of Thymus zygis subsp. zygis; and sage scrublands of Salvia lavandulifolia subsp. lavandulifolia. These plant communities, located in unique landscapes mainly in Iberia and other parts of Europe, should be subject to conservation and restoration measures, in order to maintain their ecological value and avoid the loss of unique species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]