Search

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), metabolic rewiring and resistance to standard therapy are closely associated. PDAC cells show enormous requirements for glucose‐derived citrate, the first rate‐limiting metabolite in the synthesis of new lipids. Both the expression and activity of citrate synthase (CS) are extraordinarily upregulated in PDAC. However, no previous relationship between gemcitabine response and citrate metabolism has been documented in pancreatic cancer. Here, we report for the first time that pharmacological doses of vitamin C are capable of exerting an inhibitory action on the activity of CS, reducing glucose‐derived citrate levels. Moreover, ascorbate targets citrate metabolism towards the de novo lipogenesis pathway, impairing fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) expression. Lowered citrate availability was found to be directly associated with diminished proliferation and, remarkably, enhanced gemcitabine response. Moreover, the deregulated citrate‐derived lipogenic pathway correlated with a remarkable decrease in extracellular pH through inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and overall reduced glycolytic metabolism. Modulation of citric acid metabolism in highly chemoresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma, through molecules such as vitamin C, could be considered as a future clinical option to improve patient response to standard chemotherapy regimens.

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.

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.

El presente trabajo dedicado al estudio de la rentabilidad de marketing con perspectivas de desarrollo empresarial, parte de la necesidad de instrumentar una herramienta de análisis de gestión de inversiones, que potencie la actividad comercial; considerando la premisa de reconocer el carácter estratégico y el enfoque al cliente, para lo cual el conocimiento del entorno juega un papel decisivo en la dinámica de actores, competidores y consumidores. Posteriormente se conducen los autores al estudio de la rentabilidad del proceso, como inversión, tanto en su base operativa como financiera y los instrumentos empleados al efecto y a su vez, a proponer las acciones que en el orden metodológico son pertinentes establecer para la gestión eficiente del Marketing ROI.

Abstract 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 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.

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.

Este trabajo presenta una investigación sobre la situación de los humedales como unidad de planificación y gestión, a partir de un estudio de casos en Argentina. Se basa conceptualmente en el planteo observado en Traba (2020), que es repasado de forma sintética, porque además otorga el marco metodológico al relevamiento realizado. Ese planteo parte de la gobernanza como enfoque para las políticas públicas y los procesos de participación socioinstitucional, aplicado esto a escenarios socioambientales; en este caso, los humedales como unidad territorial-ambiental en el marco de una cuenca. El proceso consistió en un relevamiento de sitios de interés con un formulario web confeccionado con base en los criterios de análisis de esos procesos que emergen del citado trabajo. Los contactos fueron referentes locales ―un nivel de gestión central en estos temas― que estaban a cargo o participaban de espacios o dispositivos institucionales donde se lleva a cabo la gestión de los mismos. Los emergentes detectados terminan de afirmar, por presencia o ausencia, la pertinencia de los factores de “éxito” en esos escenarios, es decir, aquellas condiciones que permiten lograr los objetivos de la sociedad en su conjunto, donde se destaca en particular la importancia de las cuestiones metodológicas para el tratamiento de lo sustantivo en todos los órdenes. Esta situación no es precisamente común, son escenarios ambientales complejos que hoy son eje de preocupación en todos los ámbitos y donde debería jerarquizarse el nivel local de gestión como eje de las acciones en el territorio.

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. Level of evidence V.

En esta contribución se formula una hipótesis para dar cuenta del cambio semántico experimentado por adjetivos que designan el concepto pleasant smelling en inglés americano, los cuales se han vuelto cada vez más frecuentes para designar aromas artificiales en detrimento de aromas naturales. Los desarrollos sociales y tecnológicos que tuvieron lugar en la sociedad estadounidense durante la Primera y Segunda Revolución Industrial bien podrían constituir una de las causas subyacentes detrás de dicho cambio semántico. Para comprobar esta hipótesis, se utilizan métodos frecuentes en la investigación sobre la interrelación entre lengua y sociedad. En concreto, primero se recurre a un enfoque basado en diccionarios, cuyos resultados se complementan posteriormente con análisis semánticos distribucionales para así examinar como se conceptualiza una serie de categorías semánticas que podrían reflejar los desarrollos extralingüísticos mencionados anteriormente. Los resultados apoyan la hipótesis de que el cambio semántico experimentado por los adjetivos del dominio del olfato con toda probabilidad se ha visto influenciado por los desarrollos sociales que tuvieron lugar en los Estados Unidos en el período examinado. Este cambio hacia un mayor grado de artificialidad, por lo tanto, no parece ser una coincidencia, sino el resultado de alguna causa subyacente.

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.

Food availability plays a key role affecting almost every aspect of bird ecology, including bird population, distribution, reproduction, and behavior. Understanding the functional relationship between prey availability and insectivorous birds’ diet is important in the current scenario of habitat loss and declining of insect and bird populations. We used a fecal metabarcoding approach coupled with prey availability sampling (arthropod abundance and biomass) to test for evidence of selective foraging in a shrub-steppe passerine assemblage over the 2017–2019 breeding seasons in semi-natural steppes of central Spain. The results showed that the six bird species selected specific arthropod taxa. Heteroptera, Orthoptera, Araneae, Lepidoptera and some Coleoptera families were the main selected prey taxa, while Formicidae appeared to be avoided, suggesting that shrub-steppe passerines tend to select prey items providing essential nutrients and energy during the breeding season, while poor quality ones are neglected. Our findings highlight the utility of metabarcoding dietary data to assess prey selection patterns in insectivorous passerines and provide valuable information for the development of conservation and management programs to ensure the long-term availability of crucial food resources for shrub-steppe birds and other insectivores.

Las devoluciones en caliente en Melilla, una ciudad española ubicada en la frontera terrestre entre Europa y Marruecos, en el norte de África, vulneran la normativa europea de protección de derechos humanos al no contemplar la identificación del migrante que salta la valla que separa ambos territorios, lo que impide reclamar esa decisión administrativa. De esta forma se le priva del derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva, consagrado en la Constitución Española. Tampoco se le permite solicitar asilo o acceder a servicios de intérprete o asistencia letrada junto a la alambrada, y se le devuelve por la vía de hecho a un país (Marruecos) donde ser migrante irregular es un delito. Se obvia así el principio de no devolución a un lugar que no es seguro y, en la mayoría de los casos, la prohibición de las expulsiones colectivas. Este artículo estudia el marco legal de las devoluciones en caliente, en vísperas de la sentencia del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos de febrero de 2020, que exoneró a España de responsabilidad al poner la seguridad de un Estado por encima de los derechos humanos.

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]

In their Comment in @CommsEarth, Manuel Morales and colleagues argue that we must act now to protect green agricultural policies in the EU to ensure food security in the future.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la influencia de las distintas variables de juego en el resultado final de los partidos de hockey sobre patines. Se analizó la influencia de la localización del partido, marcar el primer gol del encuentro, ir ganando al finalizar la primera parte e ir ganando al finalizar la primera parte por más de un gol. Se analizaron un total de 480 partidos de la primera división española (OK Liga) disputados durante las temporadas 2017-2018 y 2018-2019. El análisis de regresión logística mostró que la variable que obtuvo una asociación más fuerte con la victoria fue ganar en la media parte por más de un gol (OR 4.47). Además, las variables ganar en la media parte (OR 3.35), marcar primero (OR 2.05) y localización del partido (OR 1.83) también fueron factores que mostraron una asociación positiva con el resultado final del partido. Los factores identificados pueden ayudar a los entrenadores y jugadores de hockey sobre patines a adaptar mejor sus estrategias y objetivos de entrenamiento antes de cada competición, estableciendo un mejor conocimiento y comprensión del juego

Parental food provisioning is crucial for the growth and survival of offspring. Growth rate depends on food quality and food supplied to offspring may differ from what adults use for their own. In the case of steppe passerine birds, detailed characterization on nestling dietary composition, as well as prey choice and resource partitioning among species, is a pending subject. Dietary differences between nestlings and adults remain also largely unexplored. By using faecal DNA metabarcoding, we described the diet of nestlings and adults of five shrub-steppe passerine species over the 2017–2019 breeding seasons in central Spain. We also monitored arthropod availability in the field to assess dietary selection. We expected interspecific dietary differences to limit competition for food resources among sympatric species, as well as parental selection of high quality prey for nestlings. We also predicted age-related differences, with nestlings being fed nutrient-rich prey more frequently than adults. The main arthropod orders provisioned to nestlings were Orthoptera, Julida, Araneae and Lepidoptera. Nestlings of the different species showed high interspecific diet overlap, indicating both a coincidence in growth needs among bird species and no or little limitation of the most profitable resources during the breeding season. Adults of all species showed higher diet richness than nestlings, and age-related differences in prey composition were mainly driven by the selection of the most easily digestible, larger protein- and calcium-rich prey for nestlings, which may favour their rapid growth, and avoiding highly sclerotized and less nutritional prey such as ants. Our study sheds light on the basic ecology and conservation of these declining steppe birds, indicating that interspecific competition may not be a major factor during the breeding season. Given the current global decline of arthropods, further long-term research would be necessary, along with the implementation of effective conservation measures that ensure a sufficient availability of resources identified as key prey in the diet of steppe bird nestlings.

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.

The Dupont’s lark (Chersophilus duponti) is an endangered passerine typical of Mediterranean shrub-steppes, whose European distribution is restricted to Spain. Here, we update the population size and distribution range of the species at a European scale and evaluate (i) the current status; (ii) the change in population size and distribution range of the species from 2004 to 2009 to the current period (2017–2022); and (iii) the effectiveness of the current network of special protection areas (SPAs) for protecting the Dupont’s lark. The European Dupont’s lark population showed a decrease of 29.9%, declining from ca. 3267 to 2289 territorial males from 2004 to 2009 to the current period. Moreover, the species has suffered a contraction in its distribution range of 35.9%, with only 39.3% of the species’ territories located within the current network of SPAs. Our findings agree with the previously described decline of the Dupont’s lark in Europe. The population decline was even larger in peripheral regions, which suggests that the species is suffering a centripetal process of contraction and extinction. These results indicate that if there is no change in present-day declining forces, several peripheral populations will reach extinction in a few decades and the overall population size of the species will continue decreasing. Our study should be considered as a last call for action and used for implementing urgent conservation measures to protect the species and its habitat. Future studies should focus on analyzing and managing the factors driving the species’ extinction and future actions for the conservation of the species should focus on increasing the percentage of the Dupont’s lark territories within protected areas, since the data are alarmingly low for a species that is facing clear risk of extinction.

Abstract 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.

In human-wildlife conflicts, it is crucial to develop accurate protocols for the reliable verification of the causative species and its relationship with potential damage claims. One of such conflicts is that occurring between apiarists and bee-eaters. In this work, we aim to assess the utility of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as an efficient methodology to measure European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) predation pressure at beehives and its impact on honeybees foraging activity. Using Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) in apiaries, coupled to automated recognition methods for bee-eater calls identification, we found a positive relationship between Vocal Activity Rate (VAR) index and number of bee-eaters hunting attempts on honeybees. We also found that VAR varied over time, showing a lower predation pressure during midday hours and higher during the post-breeding migratory period. Honeybees flying activity was negatively associated with VAR and this relationship was conditioned by the hour of the day. Our study offers a new application of PAM and acoustic derived indices for the evaluation of potential damages caused by wildlife. We focused on the interaction between honeybees and the European bee-eater, but we expect PAM might be useful also to remotely monitor impacts to human activities produced by other vocally active species.

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.

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), metabolic rewiring and resistance to standard therapy are closely associated. PDAC cells show enormous requirements for glucose‐derived citrate, the first rate‐limiting metabolite in the synthesis of new lipids. Both the expression and activity of citrate synthase (CS) are extraordinarily upregulated in PDAC. However, no previous relationship between gemcitabine response and citrate metabolism has been documented in pancreatic cancer. Here, we report for the first time that pharmacological doses of vitamin C are capable of exerting an inhibitory action on the activity of CS, reducing glucose‐derived citrate levels. Moreover, ascorbate targets citrate metabolism towards the de novo lipogenesis pathway, impairing fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) expression. Lowered citrate availability was found to be directly associated with diminished proliferation and, remarkably, enhanced gemcitabine response. Moreover, the deregulated citrate‐derived lipogenic pathway correlated with a remarkable decrease in extracellular pH through inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and overall reduced glycolytic metabolism. Modulation of citric acid metabolism in highly chemoresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma, through molecules such as vitamin C, could be considered as a future clinical option to improve patient response to standard chemotherapy regimens. [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]

Introduction Evidence supports an ultrasound-guided approach in patients with difficult vascular access. Prior research on teaching ultrasound-guided intravenous access has included only small groups of first- and second-year medical students. Methods We enrolled fourth-year medical students in our teaching module. The module featured a 6-minute prelearning narrated lecture and 5-minute orientation, followed by ultrasound-guided IV placement on homemade gel models. Facilitators were emergency medicine (EM) residents with a prespecified level of procedural ultrasound skills according to EM milestones. Students completed pre- and postmodule surveys. Facilitators completed the Directly Observed Procedural Skills Evaluation. Primary outcomes included global rating, proficiency on six procedural skills, and perceived learning. Results Our module was completed by 150 fourth-year medical students (94% of the class); 84% cannulated the vein in one attempt. We used a global rating scale to describe the students' cannulation abilities; 59% were trusted to perform this procedure with direct supervision and coaching, 29% with indirect supervision, and 8% without supervision. There was no association between a student's order of attempting IV access within the group and global rating (p = .41). Students reported increased understanding of indications, antecubital anatomy, sonographic anatomy, and procedural comfort (12%, 29%, 38%, and 65% improvement pre- vs. postmodule, respectively; p < .001). Discussion Our module enabled more than one-third of fourth-year medical students to achieve an indirect supervision or better level of proficiency in ultrasound-guided IV access, with significant improvements in perceived knowledge. This module may be useful for other educators facilitating the transition to residency.

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.