Search

Since 2006, white-nose syndrome has caused drastic declines in populations of several hibernating bat species throughout eastern North America. Thus, there is a growing need to establish long-term monitoring programs to assess changes in bat populations over time. Information on the seasonal timing of species occurrence and the sampling effort required to acoustically detect individual bat species and obtain complete inventories will enable researchers to design and implement more effective monitoring programs. From April to October 2018 to 2021, we passively sampled for bats using full-spectrum detectors at eight permanent sites at Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, Pennsylvania. We examined seasonal activity patterns and estimated bat species richness among sites and seasons using species accumulation curves. We also estimated probability of detection (p) and site occupancy (Ψ) using single-season occupancy models in PRESENCE software and then determined the minimum number of sampling nights needed to reliably infer the absence of each species. We identified 286,131 bat passes of eight species in 4,107 detector-nights. Seasonal patterns of activity varied among species. We needed approximately 20 sampling nights to detect 90% of the total bat species richness among sites, and we needed 4 to 10 nights to detect 90% of species richness among seasons. We needed relatively few nights (≤12 nights) to detect most species during summer; however, we needed many more nights to detect acoustically rare species. Our results indicate that the acoustic sampling effort currently required to determine the presence or probable absence of Indiana myotis Myotis sodalis, northern long-eared myotis M. septentrionalis, and tricolored bats Perimyotis subflavus during summer may not be adequate for these species in some areas and that a considerable level of effort (>40 nights) is needed to detect little brown myotis M. lucifugus. Monitoring programs that incorporate efficient sampling methodologies will be critical for future conservation efforts as populations of several bat species continue to decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the potential use of curcumin nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) as a treatment for bronchial remodeling in asthma. The study shows that CUR-NPs improve the uptake and accumulation of curcumin in cells and decrease the expression of proteins involved in airway remodeling. However, the study has limitations, such as the lack of assessment of cell phenotype and the need for further investigation into the effects of CUR-NPs on cell proliferation and migration. The researchers suggest that more studies are needed to fully evaluate the effectiveness of CUR-NPs as a treatment for airway remodeling in asthma. [Extracted from the article]

This Research determines the factors influencing American consumers' willingness to purchase turmeric products, amidst the spice's rising popularity for its potential health benefits, particularly those linked to its bioactive component, curcumin. Through a comprehensive analysis of a Qualtrics online survey with 1,020 national respondents in the U.S., we employed advanced choice experiment mixed logit models to elucidate consumer preferences regarding product form, origin, sustainability certification, curcumin content, and price. Contrary to the initial hypothesis that curcumin potency would be a primary driver, our results indicate that the place of origin and price significantly shape purchasing decisions, with a clear preference for inland domestically grown, organically certified turmeric products. These insights offer valuable guidance for producers, manufacturers, and marketers in the natural products industry, suggesting a focus on emphasizing local, sustainable sourcing and clear communication of organic credentials to align with consumer expectations. Our findings not only provide a detailed understanding of current consumer attitudes toward turmeric but also highlight potential markets for turmeric-based product development and effective marketing to cater to the evolving demand for health-beneficial natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation, oxidative injury, and gut dysbiosis play an important role in the pathogenesis of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Plant-derived substances have historically been used as therapeutic agents due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. We aimed to review pre-clinical evidence for plant-derived substances in the prevention and treatment of NEC. A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, EMCARE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library (PROSPERO CRD42022365477). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that evaluated a plant-derived substance as an intervention for NEC in an animal model of the illness and compared pre-stated outcomes (e.g., clinical severity, severity of intestinal injury, mortality, laboratory markers of inflammation and oxidative injury) were included. Sixteen studies (n = 610) were included in the systematic review. Ten of the sixteen included RCTs (Preterm rat pups: 15, Mice: 1) reported mortality and all reported NEC-related histology. Meta-analysis showed decreased mortality [12/134 vs. 27/135; RR: 0.48 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.87); p = 0.02, 10 RCTs] and decreased NEC in the experimental group [24/126 vs. 55/79; RR: 0.34 (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.52); p < 0.001, 6 RCTs]. Markers of inflammation (n = 11) and oxidative stress (n = 13) improved in all the studies that have reported this outcome. There was no significant publication bias for the outcome of mortality. Plant-derived substances have the potential to reduce the incidence and severity of histologically diagnosed NEC and mortality in rodent models. These findings are helpful in guiding further pre-clinical studies towards developing a food supplement for the prevention of NEC in preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases caused by invasive, environmentally persistent fungal pathogens have increasingly endangered global biodiversity, yet disease management remains a major conservation challenge. A prominent example is white‐nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that has devastated populations of multiple North American bat species, but for which few effective management tools exist. Here, we propose that strategies to delay environmental transmission of Pd during early winter could limit WNS disease effects across winter, benefitting bats. We used a small captive experiment and a multi‐year field trial on wild, free‐ranging bats to assess an environmental control strategy to manage Pd within its environmental reservoir in Pennsylvania, USA, where the pathogen has become endemic. The strategy centers on the application of Polyethylene Glycol 8000 (PEG) to roost substrates in summer, prior to bat hibernation, as a means to disrupt environmental transmission to bats in early winter. In the captive experiment, environmental transmission of Pd to immunologically naïve little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) occurred from roost substrates inoculated with Pd, but the application of PEG to these substrates effectively blocked this transmission. In the field trial, Pd load and infection extent both declined substantially in free‐ranging M. lucifugus after treatment relative to controls, with declines exceeding effects of inter‐site and inter‐annual variation. Pathogen prevalence and load also declined substantially after PEG treatment in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). No negative effects of PEG treatment were observed in body condition or colony counts of bats or in the microbial community. Together, these results are consistent with effective environmental control of Pd and reduced WNS disease effects in bats within contaminated hibernacula. The results also highlight the potential of carefully designed environmental control strategies for managing environmentally persistent pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supplementary materials provided in the text offer additional information and data on the movement patterns of Striped Bass in the Great Pee Dee River system. These materials consist of maps, tables, and figures that illustrate the movement patterns of individual fish and provide data on their behavior and habitat use. The text also discusses various research studies conducted on topics such as fish movement, bat populations, line transect distance sampling, bird populations, and waterfowl hunter recruitment. These studies offer valuable insights for researchers and conservation practitioners in their respective fields. The text includes references and acknowledgments for further reading and recognition of contributors. [Extracted from the article]

The clinical fellowship (CF) is completed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) after graduating with a master's degree. The clinical fellow is supervised by a mentoring SLP who meets the qualifications set forth by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The current study focused on differences and similarities in expectations during the CF by the mentoring SLP and clinical fellow. Participants were asked about knowledge and skills for which clinical fellows are evaluated at the end of the CF in the areas of assessment and treatment. Clinical fellows wanted more help with assessment and less assistance with treatment. Mentoring SLPs felt assistance was needed for assessment and treatment. A model is proposed at the end to aid in implementing the recommendations based on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though a diverse array of teaching methods is now available, bedside teaching is arguably the most favoured. Students like it because it is patient-centred, and it includes a high proportion of relevant skills. It is on the decline, coinciding with declining clinical skills of junior doctors. Several factors might account for this: busier hospitals, broader roles of clinicians, competing teaching modalities, and the limited training of clinicians as medical educators. However, bedside teaching offers unique benefits. Students gain first-hand experience of the doctor patient relationship. They see the process of interacting with patients, investigative yet sensitive, demystified. Certain clinical skills, like the recognition of the tactile sensation of hepatosplenomegaly cannot be simulated elsewhere. We advocate the preservation of bedside learning experience. Teaching guidelines should be written to minimise disruption to ward work, and to ensure the preservation of patient autonomy. Greater emphasis should be placed on bedside skills in the undergraduate curriculum. For teachers, training in teaching methodology should begin at undergraduate level, with subsequent protected teaching time in job plans. This would increase not just the quantity, but also the quality of bedside teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]