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Abstract Background The City of Boston has faced unprecedented challenges with substance use amidst changes to the illicit drug supply and increased visibility of homelessness. Among its responses, Boston developed six low threshold harm reduction housing (HRH) sites geared towards supporting the housing needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and addressing health and safety concerns around geographically concentrated tent encampments. HRH sites are transitional supportive housing that adhere to a “housing first” approach where abstinence is not required and harm reduction services and supports are co-located. Despite the importance of HRH, the specific characteristics and operations of these sites are not well understood. This study sought to address this gap by cataloging the common features of Boston’s HRH sites to generate a comprehensive inventory tool for evaluating implementation of harm reduction strategies at transitional housing locations. Methods We collected data between June and September 2023 and included semi-structured qualitative interviews with HRH staff (n = 19), ethnographic observations and photos at six HRH sites. Candidate inventory components were derived through triangulation of the data. Two expert medical staff unaffiliated with data collection reviewed a draft inventory measuring awareness and utility of HRH inventory components. We then pilot tested the inventory with three HRH residents across two sites for readability and reliability. Awareness, frequency of use, and perceived helpfulness of key inventory items were further tested in a survey to 106 residents. Results HRH staff identified best practices, resources, and policies in HRH sites that were further contextualized with ethnographic field notes. Common to all were overdose prevention protocols, behavioral policies, security measures, and distribution of harm reduction supplies. The initial 44-item inventory of services, policies and site best practices was further refined with expert and participant feedback and application, then finalized to generate a 32-item inventory. Residents identified and valued harm reduction services; medical supports were highly valued but less utilized. Conclusion The HRH inventory comprehensively assesses harm reduction provision and residents’ awareness and perceived helpfulness of HRH operational components in staying safe from drug-related harms. Characterizing the critical components of HRH through this tool will aid in standardizing the concept and practice of HRH for PWUD and may assist other cities in planning and implementing HRH.

Abstract Dispersal is an important life history trait that plays a key role in the demography and evolution of species. We employed a combined approach of DNA sequencing and transmission electron microscopy to examine the changes in the microbiome during the ontogeny and dispersal of the coral-excavating sponge Thoosa mismalolli. The results show that sponge can acquired their associated bacteria via both vertical (VT) and horizontal transmission (HT). Adult sponges, brooding larvae, and early free-swimming sponge larvae harbor a similar high-diversity microbial assemblage, dominated by Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi, which change throughout the larval dispersal phase. Larvae collected offshore showed a reorganization of their microbiome with a significant reduction of the dominance of inherited bacteria (Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi), and an enrichment of environmentally derived bacteria taxa (Bacteroidetes, Tenericutes, and Firmicutes). TEM confirmed a substantial change in cell structure and microbial composition, attributed to symbionts’ massive phagocytosis. This research provides information on microbiome dynamics through the sponge ontogeny and sheds on their possible role in the dispersal capacity of their larvae.

Introduction: The assessment of person-environment congruence is important in vocational and career guidance. The aims of this study were to obtain descriptive statistics for the congruence between realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional (RIASEC) vocational interests and occupational aspirations, and to relate congruence scores to vocational self-efficacy and the Big Five personality traits in a sample of high school students. Method: The participants were 274 second- and third-year high school students from Cajeme (Sonora, Mexico). The Self-Directed Search (SDS), the Vocational Self-Efficacy Scale and the Global Personality Assessment Scale were administered. Congruence was measured using the Iachan and C indexes. Descriptive statistics and percentile rankings of congruence scores were obtained. To explore the association between variables, partial correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: Female students obtained higher mean scores on the two congruence indexes than male students; however, the difference was only significant for the Iachan index. The Big Five personality traits in the aggregate explained significant amounts of variability in congruence scores, with small to moderate effect sizes. Openness to experience was the only significant predictor. Self-efficacy dimensions were not significantly associated with congruence scores. Discussion or Conclusion: The results provide information in the line of research on the relationships between the congruence construct with the Big Five-factors of personality and vocational self-efficacy. The study has practical implications in vocational assessment and guidance; the descriptive statistics for the two congruence indexes (Iachan and C) will allow more valid interpretations of the scores of this construct in populations with characteristics similar to those of the sample.

LMNA-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an autosomal-dominant genetic condition with cardiomyocyte and conduction system dysfunction often resulting in heart failure or sudden death. The condition is caused by mutation in the Lamin A/C (LMNA) gene encoding Type-A nuclear lamin proteins involved in nuclear integrity, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and differentiation. The molecular mechanisms of the disease are not completely understood, and there are no definitive treatments to reverse progression or prevent mortality. We investigated possible mechanisms of LMNA-related DCM using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from a family with a heterozygous LMNA c.357-2A>G splice-site mutation. We differentiated one LMNA-mutant iPSC line derived from an affected female (Patient) and two non-mutant iPSC lines derived from her unaffected sister (Control) and conducted single-cell RNA sequencing for 12 samples (four from Patients and eight from Controls) across seven time points: Day 0, 2, 4, 9, 16, 19, and 30. Our bioinformatics workflow identified 125,554 cells in raw data and 110,521 (88%) high-quality cells in sequentially processed data. Unsupervised clustering, cell annotation, and trajectory inference found complex heterogeneity: ten main cell types; many possible subtypes; and lineage bifurcation for cardiac progenitors to cardiomyocytes (CMs) and epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs). Data integration and comparative analyses of Patient and Control cells found cell type and lineage-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with enrichment, supporting pathway dysregulation. Top DEGs and enriched pathways included 10 ZNF genes and RNA polymerase II transcription in pluripotent cells (PP); BMP4 and TGF Beta/BMP signaling, sarcomere gene subsets and cardiogenesis, CDH2 and EMT in CMs; LMNA and epigenetic regulation, as well as DDIT4 and mTORC1 signaling in EPDCs. Top DEGs also included XIST and other X-linked genes, six imprinted genes (SNRPN, PWAR6, NDN, PEG10, MEG3, MEG8), and enriched gene sets related to metabolism, proliferation, and homeostasis. We confirmed Lamin A/C haploinsufficiency by allelic expression and Western blot. Our complex Patient-derived iPSC model for Lamin A/C haploinsufficiency in PP, CM, and EPDC provided support for dysregulation of genes and pathways, many previously associated with Lamin A/C defects, such as epigenetic gene expression, signaling, and differentiation. Our findings support disruption of epigenomic developmental programs, as proposed in other LMNA disease models. We recognized other factors influencing epigenetics and differentiation; thus, our approach needs improvement to further investigate this mechanism in an iPSC-derived model.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to examine whether the addition of Virtual Reality (VR) meditation training to a standard 8-week Mindfulness-Based Health Care Program (MBHC-VR) results in a significantly increased improvement in occupational, mental health, and psychological functioning versus MBHC-only in university students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial with three arms (MBHC, MBHC-VR, Control Group), four assessment time points (pre-intervention, inter-session, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up), and mixed methodology will be proposed. University students (undergraduate, master, or doctoral) interested in participating and who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be included over two years. Data will be collected from different ad hoc questionnaires, several standardized tests, and an Ecological Momentary Assessment. We will use R software to carry out descriptive analyses (univariate and bivariate), multilevel modeling, and structural equation models to respond to the proposed objective. The qualitative analysis will be carried out using the MAXQDA program and the technique of focus groups. DISCUSSION: It is expected that with the proposed intervention university students will learn to relate in a healthier way with their mental processes, so as to improve their occupational balance (OB) and their psychological well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05929430.

The world’s “100 worst invasive species” were listed in 2000. The list is taxonomically diverse, often cited (typically for single-species studies), and its species are frequently reported in global biodiversity data bases. We acted on the principle that these notorious species should be well-reported to help answer two questions about global biogeography of invasive species (i.e., not just their invaded ranges): (1) “how are data distributed globally?” and (2) “what predicts diversity?” We collected location data for each of the 100 species from multiple data bases; 95 had sufficient data for analyses. For question (1), we mapped global species richness and cumulative occurrences since 2000 in (0.5 degree)2 grids. For question (2) we compared alternative regression models representing non-exclusive hypotheses for geography (i.e., spatial autocorrelation), sampling effort, climate, and anthropocentric effects. Reported locations of the invasive species were spatially-biased, leaving large gaps on multiple continents. Accordingly, species richness was best explained by both anthropocentric effects not often used in biogeographic models (Government Effectiveness, Voice & Accountability, human population size) and typical natural factors (climate, geography; R2 = 0.87). Cumulative occurrence was strongly related to anthropocentric effects (R2 = 0.62). We extract five lessons for invasive species biogeography; foremost are the importance of anthropocentric measures for understanding invasive species diversity patterns and large lacunae in their known global distributions. Despite those knowledge gaps, advanced models here predict well the biogeography of the world’s worst invasive species for much of the world.

The title compound 3-(2,4,6-timethyl-phenylamino)-but-2-enoate was obtained by condensation reaction of ethyl acetoacetate and 2,4,6-trimethyl-phenylamine. X-ray structural analysis identified the structure of the synthetized β-enaminoester, NMR spectroscopy complemented it, and the structure stabilized by intramolecular interactions. The intermolecular contacts were further analysed by the mapping of contacts descriptors dnorm, de, di, the shape-by-Shape index and surface property by electrostatic potential mapped on the Hirshfeld surface (HS). Data from density functional theory (DFT) was compared to experimental results for this process. Global reactivity factors such electronegativity, chemical hardness, potential, and softness were calculated using DFT. The effects of the molecular environment were accessed by analysing the electrostatic potentials surface mapped over the HS and the 3D-topology of energy frameworks. As a potential bioactive molecule, the physicochemical and ADME-Tox predictions were performed suggesting that compound 3 could be considered as promising drug candidate.

Las pruebas de laboratorio resultan cruciales en el diagnóstico de las gammapatías monoclonales. La última actualización de la guía del Grupo Internacional de Trabajo sobre el Mieloma (IMWG) para el diagnóstico de gammapatías monoclonales ha suscitado cierto debate sobre la pertinencia de realizar análisis de orina en el diagnóstico de estas patologías.

The phytosanitary problems and the complex floral biology influence the fruit quality and productivity of papaya. Use of grafting mitigates adverse aspects, becoming a complementary activity of crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic behaviour of grafted papaya plants. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, the treatments were derived from six rootstock/scion combinations and four controls, based on commercial genotypes. In the second experiment, four rootstocks and two genotypes formed eight rootstock/scion treatments, and two controls were used. The morphological variables as well as the qualitative and productive variables of fruits were recorded. Results showed that plant height was maintained or reduced in some treatments, whereas stem girth and leaf numbers in grafted treatments were increased. The fruit quality was not influenced by grafting. In the productivity, the grafted plants showed higher fruit production. For an example, the Rootstock 'MSXJ' × Scion 'Maradona' and the Rootstock 'BS2' × Scion 'Maradol'>40 kg · plant−1 and almost 9 kg · m–2, respectively; and the Rootstock 'Robusta' × Scion 'Maradol' treatment was higher than the other treatments, reaching 38.39 kg · plant–1 and 8.53 kg · m–2, in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Grafting on papaya positively changed the morphological variables, increased the number of fruits per plant in grafted plant treatments, as well as yield per area, surpassing controls by 25% and 22% in both experiments, respectively.

Bicycle use has become more important today, but more information and planning models are needed to implement bike lanes that encourage cycling. This study aimed to develop a methodology to predict the speed a cyclist can reach in an urban environment and to provide information for planning cycling infrastructure. The methodology consisted of obtaining GPS data on longitude, latitude, elevation, and time from a smartphone of two groups of cyclists to calculate the speeds and slopes through a model based on a recurrent short-term memory (LSTM) type neural network. The model was trained on 70% of the dataset, with the remaining 30% used for validation and varying training epochs (100, 200, 300, and 600). The effectiveness of recurrent neural networks in predicting the speed of a cyclist in an urban environment is shown with determination coefficients from 0.77 to 0.96. Average cyclist speeds ranged from 6.1 to 20.62 km/h. This provides a new methodology that offers valuable information for various applications in urban transportation and bicycle line planning. A limitation can be the variability in GPS device accuracy, which could affect speed measurements and the generalizability of the findings.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal experience on behavior, progesterone and estradiol concentrations, weight and body condition in goats in the peripartum period, as well as the behavior and weight of the kids in the first hours after birth. Twenty multiparous and 10 primiparous dairy goats were enrolled. Behaviors such as walking, isolation, aggression, eating, inactivity and rumination were recorded in females during the last three days prior to the day of delivery, as well as the behaviors of the dam and her progeny in the first 2 h postpartum and the ability of the mother to discriminate between own kid and the alien one (selectivity test) at 2 h postpartum. Gestational and postpartum plasma progesterone and estradiol concentrations were determined. In the prepartum period there was a higher percentage of primiparous goats that were eating and remained less inactive compared to multiparous goats (p < 0.05). During the postpartum period, the lick latency to the kid was shorter in multiparous than in primiparous goats (p = 0.015). There was a greater proportion of kids born from multiparous (67%) than from primiparous (27%) that stood up in the first 30 min postpartum (p < 0.0001). Therefore, the proportion of multiparous kids (33%) than primiparous kids (9%) that were nursed within the first hour after birth was also higher (p < 0.0001). Progesterone and estradiol concentrations were not affected by maternal experience, neither in the prepartum nor the postpartum. In conclusion, maternal experience affected some behaviors at peripartum of the dam and vitality in the kid; however, the differences in behavior were not accompanied by differences in the variations in circulating estradiol and progesterone levels in the dam.

Abstract Bariatric surgery is effective for the treatment and remission of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but pharmacological approaches which exert similar metabolic adaptations are needed to avoid post-surgical complications. Here we show how G49, an oxyntomodulin (OXM) analog and dual glucagon/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GCGR/GLP-1R) agonist, triggers an inter-organ crosstalk between adipose tissue, pancreas, and liver which is initiated by a rapid release of free fatty acids (FFAs) by white adipose tissue (WAT) in a GCGR-dependent manner. This interactome leads to elevations in adiponectin and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), causing WAT beiging, brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation, increased energy expenditure (EE) and weight loss. Elevation of OXM, under basal and postprandial conditions, and similar metabolic adaptations after G49 treatment were found in plasma from patients with obesity early after metabolic bariatric surgery. These results identify G49 as a potential pharmacological alternative sharing with bariatric surgery hormonal and metabolic pathways.

Abstract Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC) is caused by mutations in the cholesterol transport protein NPC1 leading to the endolysosomal accumulation of the lipid and to psychiatric alterations. Using an NPC mouse model (Npc1nmf164) we show aberrant mGluR5 lysosomal accumulation and reduction at plasma membrane in NPC1 deficient neurons. This phenotype was induced in wild-type (wt) neurons by genetic and pharmacological NPC1 silencing. Extraction of cholesterol normalized mGluR5 distribution in NPC1-deficient neurons. Intracellular accumulation of mGluR5 was functionally active leading to enhanced mGluR-dependent long-term depression (mGluR-LTD) in Npc1nmf164 hippocampal slices. mGluR-LTD was lower or higher in Npc1nmf164 slices compared with wt when stimulated with non-membrane-permeable or membrane-permeable mGluR5 agonists, respectively. Oral treatment with the mGluR5 antagonist 2-chloro-4-((2,5-dimethyl-1-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethynyl)pyridine (CTEP) reduced mGluR-LTD and ameliorated psychiatric anomalies in the Npc1nmf164 mice. Increased neuronal mGluR5 levels were found in an NPC patient. These results implicate mGluR5 alterations in NPC psychiatric condition and provide a new therapeutic strategy that might help patients suffering from this devastating disease.

Studies have shown that Latina faculty have negative racialized and gendered experiences while teaching at their institutions. An emerging body of research shows that these experiences also occur at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Latina faculty at one small, private, four-year Catholic HSI (C-HSI) that was trying to make sense of its C-HSI identity. Using a counter-storytelling approach and one-on-one interviews, we came to understand the racialized and gendered experiences of four Latina faculty through the themes of preservation, the act of being pushed out of the institution, and elusive administrative support. With a national call to recruit more faculty of Color to work in HSIs we argue for a focused effort on supporting currently employed faculty of Color, and specifically Latina faculty, as an aspect of servingness. Arguably, HSIs should serve (and humanize) Latine faculty too, not just students. Implications are offered for research and practice.

Schools are ideal settings to promote adolescent physical activity (PA), yet school-based interventions have shown limited long-term impact. This position paper presents key issues surrounding school-based PA interventions. Collaborative conceptual thinking drawing on multi-author expertise and available evidence advanced our understanding and opinion. Key arguments: 1) the adoption of a systems approach, which maximizes partnership action and leverages policy, is crucial for understanding the complexities of implementing whole-school programs; 2) a reorientation to an assets perspective optimizes existing strengths and resources allowing greater emphasis on the full range of physical, cognitive, emotional and social benefits that PA provides, and 3) a move beyond traditional positivist research designs to advance our knowledge of what works better, for whom and in what context is needed for greater progress We provide suggestions, specifically advocating for systems approaches, as a realistic way to improve how we support PA in schools in the future.

Preservice teachers often find it difficult to apply professional knowledge to their teaching practice. The ability to connect professional knowledge with one aspect of practice -- lesson planning -- was assessed with the Lesson Analysis and Plan Template in (N = 18) preservice teachers after one year of teacher preparation. Lesson plans were analysed using qualitative and quantitative analyses. The results suggest that the Lesson Analysis and Plan Template can reveal several aspects of preservice teachers' attention to connecting professional knowledge with their lesson plans as well as areas in which they would benefit from additional support. Furthermore, preservice teachers' connections were compared with their ability to connect professional knowledge with another aspect of practice -- observations of teaching -- using a validated instrument that assesses professional vision. The relationships found between planning and observation abilities suggest ways for teacher education programmes to bring professional knowledge closer to practice.