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Abstract Background The psychosocial impact of medical marijuana use is not yet known. This study evaluated short-term changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over the first three months of medical marijuana use. Methods This prospective, observational, longitudinal study followed adults newly recommended for medical marijuana by a physician for any of the more than 20 qualifying medical conditions in Pennsylvania. Participants (N = 438) provided their clinical status and demographic information, and completed semi-structured interviews prior to medical marijuana initiation (baseline) and at three months. HRQoL was assessed by the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Paired-samples t-tests evaluated changes in HRQoL over time. Results Participants (M age = 46.4 years [15.6]; 66.4% female) were mostly commonly referred for medical marijuana to treat anxiety disorders (61.9%) or severe chronic or intractable pain (53.6%). Participants reported rapid and significant improvements in all of the domains of HRQoL from baseline to three months after initiating medical marijuana use (physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, emotional well-being, role limitations due to emotional problems, bodily pain, social functioning, energy/fatigue and general health, P

Abstract Equation of state measurements at Jovian or stellar conditions are currently conducted by dynamic shock compression driven by multi-kilojoule multi-beam nanosecond-duration lasers. These experiments require precise design of the target and specific tailoring of the spatial and temporal laser profiles to reach the highest pressures. At the same time, the studies are limited by the low repetition rate of the lasers. Here, we show that by the irradiation of a thin wire with single-beam Joule-class short-pulse laser, a converging cylindrical shock is generated compressing the wire material to conditions relevant to the above applications. The shockwave was observed using Phase Contrast Imaging employing a hard X-ray Free Electron Laser with unprecedented temporal and spatial sensitivity. The data collected for Cu wires is in agreement with hydrodynamic simulations of an ablative shock launched by highly impulsive and transient resistive heating of the wire surface. The subsequent cylindrical shockwave travels toward the wire axis and is predicted to reach a compression factor of 9 and pressures above 800 Mbar. Simulations for astrophysical relevant materials underline the potential of this compression technique as a new tool for high energy density studies at high repetition rates.

Abstract Large language models (LLMs) hold great promise in summarizing medical evidence. Most recent studies focus on the application of proprietary LLMs. Using proprietary LLMs introduces multiple risk factors, including a lack of transparency and vendor dependency. While open-source LLMs allow better transparency and customization, their performance falls short compared to the proprietary ones. In this study, we investigated to what extent fine-tuning open-source LLMs can further improve their performance. Utilizing a benchmark dataset, MedReview, consisting of 8161 pairs of systematic reviews and summaries, we fine-tuned three broadly-used, open-sourced LLMs, namely PRIMERA, LongT5, and Llama-2. Overall, the performance of open-source models was all improved after fine-tuning. The performance of fine-tuned LongT5 is close to GPT-3.5 with zero-shot settings. Furthermore, smaller fine-tuned models sometimes even demonstrated superior performance compared to larger zero-shot models. The above trends of improvement were manifested in both a human evaluation and a larger-scale GPT4-simulated evaluation.

Extrusion of viscous lava produces domes and spines, collapses of which pose a significant local hazard. Understanding extrusion processes and probabilistic hazard estimation require comprehensive datasets of geometric parameters. We introduce Morphology of Viscous Extrusions (MoVE), a collation of 323 observations of height and width from 80 extrusions at 46 volcanoes globally with compositions spanning basaltic through rhyolitic. Filtering this dataset for sample size, age, and time series overrepresentation reduces the composition range to basaltic-andesitic through dacitic, for which we do not identify a statistically significant effect of composition on extrusion geometry. Young (

Abstract Acoustic telemetry is a common tool used in fisheries management to estimate fish space use (i.e., occupancy) from a local habitat scale to entire systems. Numerous analytical models have been developed to estimate different aspects of fish movement from telemetry datasets, yet evaluations of model performance and comparisons among models are limited. Here, we develop a framework to evaluate model estimates of regional occupancy in large and fragmented systems using an acoustic receiver array in Lake Champlain. We simulated the tracks of 100 acoustically tagged fish using a random walk function and created detection events based on receiver positions and distance-based detection probability. Regional occupancy for the simulated data was estimated by six movement models that ranged in analytical complexity, and results were compared to the true distributions for each simulated track to evaluate model error. The six movement models included: (1) a basic residency index using detections alone; (2) a residency index using last-observation-carried-forward; (3) a centers of activity model; (4) linear and non-linear interpolations (i.e., least-cost paths); and (5 and 6) two dynamic Brownian bridge movement models generated using separate packages in R. We developed a model selection process to compare model performance and select the optimal analysis based on simulation error. This process showed significant differences in model performance among the six movement models based on model error. Overall, the model generating least-cost paths using linear and non-linear interpolations consistently provided the most accurate regional occupancy estimates. Based on these simulation results, we applied this model to a case study that evaluated patterns in the regional distribution of stocked lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Champlain, which demonstrated distinct regional occupancy of two stocked lake trout groups. These results demonstrate potential for large variability in interpretation of acoustic telemetry data for describing regional fish distribution dependent on the analytical method used.

Abstract Ultra-intense lasers that ionize atoms and accelerate electrons in solids to near the speed of light can lead to kinetic instabilities that alter the laser absorption and subsequent electron transport, isochoric heating, and ion acceleration. These instabilities can be difficult to characterize, but X-ray scattering at keV photon energies allows for their visualization with femtosecond temporal resolution on the few nanometer mesoscale. Here, we perform such experiment on laser-driven flat silicon membranes that shows the development of structure with a dominant scale of 60 nm in the plane of the laser axis and laser polarization, and 95 nm in the vertical direction with a growth rate faster than 0.1 fs−1. Combining the XFEL experiments with simulations provides a complete picture of the structural evolution of ultra-fast laser-induced plasma density development, indicating the excitation of plasmons and a filamentation instability. Particle-in-cell simulations confirm that these signals are due to an oblique two-stream filamentation instability. These findings provide new insight into ultra-fast instability and heating processes in solids under extreme conditions at the nanometer level with possible implications for laser particle acceleration, inertial confinement fusion, and laboratory astrophysics.

Abstract Background Many clinical pathways for the diagnosis of disease are based on diagnostic tests that are performed in sequence. The performance of the full diagnostic sequence is dictated by the diagnostic performance of each test in the sequence as well as the conditional dependence between them, given true disease status. Resulting estimates of performance, such as the sensitivity and specificity of the test sequence, are key parameters in health-economic evaluations. We conducted a methodological review of statistical methods for assessing the performance of diagnostic tests performed in sequence, with the aim of guiding data analysts towards classes of methods that may be suitable given the design and objectives of the testing sequence. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant papers describing methodology for analysing sequences of diagnostic tests. Papers were classified by the characteristics of the method used, and these were used to group methods into themes. We illustrate some of the methods using data from a cohort study of repeat faecal immunochemical testing for colorectal cancer in symptomatic patients, to highlight the importance of allowing for conditional dependence in test sequences and adjustment for an imperfect reference standard. Results Five overall themes were identified, detailing methods for combining multiple tests in sequence, estimating conditional dependence, analysing sequences of diagnostic tests used for risk assessment, analysing test sequences in conjunction with an imperfect or incomplete reference standard, and meta-analysis of test sequences. Conclusions This methodological review can be used to help researchers identify suitable analytic methods for studies that use diagnostic tests performed in sequence.

Abstract Interrupting transmission events is critical to tuberculosis control. Cough-generated aerosol cultures predict tuberculosis transmission better than microbiological or clinical markers. We hypothesize that highly infectious individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis (positive for cough aerosol cultures) have elevated inflammatory markers and unique transcriptional profiles compared to less infectious individuals. We performed a prospective, longitudinal study using cough aerosol sampling system. We enrolled 142 participants with treatment-naïve pulmonary tuberculosis in Kenya and assessed the association of clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic characteristics with Mycobacterium tuberculosis aerosolization and transmission in 129 household members. Contacts of the forty-three aerosol culture-positive participants (30%) are more likely to have a positive interferon-gamma release assay (85% vs 53%, P = 0.006) and higher median IFNγ level (P

On 16 September 2023, a cascade of events occurred in East Greenland, involving a large tsunami that hit a military unit. Here, we use seismic waveform data recorded on regional to global scales and compare to high-resolution satellite images to learn about the cascade of events. We find two distinct seismic signals and develop a conceptual and physical model explaining the observations: initially, the high-energy seismic signals (0.02–0.06 Hz) occurred, followed by an over one-week-long monochromatic signal (0.0109 Hz) recorded even at 5000 km distance. Our single force (SF) inversions characterize both an initial rockslide and the one-week-long seiche oscillation processes. The rockslide signal is well reproduced by west and downward SF, with an orientation consistent with observations on satellite imagery. The amplitude decay of the week-long oscillation, stacked at three teleseismic arrays, is fitted with a damped oscillator model. Using a simple analytical model of water seiching in a narrow fjord, we can explain the force direction and frequency consistent with the results from SF inversion.

The administration of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke who have recently ingested direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) presents a clinical challenge due to the perceived increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Traditional guidelines from the US and European authorities advise against IVT within 48 h of last DOAC ingestion, unless specific coagulation tests indicate safety. However, emerging observational studies suggest that IVT might be safe in selected patients. A US stroke registry study and a global multicenter cohort study both reported no significant increase in symptomatic ICH among patients on DOACs compared to those not on anticoagulants. A systematic review of all published observational studies further supported these findings, showing comparable bleeding rates and functional outcomes in DOAC-treated patients. Reversal agents like idarucizumab for dabigatran have demonstrated potential in facilitating safer IVT administration, though logistical and cost-related barriers limit their widespread use. The variability in global guidelines reflects differing approaches to risk assessment and resource availability, highlighting the need for individualized treatment decisions. In India, the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation and stroke as well as prescription of DOACs necessitate adapted guidelines that consider local health-care infrastructure. Despite the promising observational data, the lack of randomized controlled trials underscores the need for further research to establish robust evidence for IVT use in this context. Collaborative international efforts and inclusion of diverse patient populations in future studies will be crucial to refine treatment protocols and improve outcomes for stroke patients on DOACs.

Abstract Interim analysis is a common methodology in randomised clinical trials but has received less attention in studies of diagnostic test accuracy. In such studies, early termination for futility may be beneficial if early evidence indicates that a diagnostic test is unlikely to achieve a clinically useful level of diagnostic performance, as measured by the sensitivity and specificity. In this paper, we describe relevant practical and analytical considerations when planning and performing interim analysis in diagnostic accuracy studies, focusing on stopping rules for futility. We present an adaptation of the exact group sequential method for diagnostic testing, with R code provided for implementing this method in practice. The method is illustrated using two simulated data sets and data from a published diagnostic accuracy study for point-of-care testing for SARS-CoV-2. The considerations described in this paper can be used to guide decisions as to when an interim analysis in a diagnostic accuracy study is suitable and highlight areas for further methodological development.

Abstract Background Community acceptance is an important criterion to assess in community trials, particularly for new tools that require high coverage and use by a target population. Installed on exterior walls of household structures, the attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) is a new vector control tool designed to attract and kill mosquitoes. ATSBs were evaluated in Western Zambia during a two-year cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of ATSBs in reducing malaria transmission. Community acceptance of ATSBs was critical for successful trial implementation. Methods A community engagement strategy outlined activities and key messages to promote acceptance. Annual cross-sectional surveys, conducted during the peak transmission period, assessed households for presence of ATSBs as well as perceived benefits, concerns, and willingness to use ATSBs. Sixteen focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews, conducted at the end of each ATSB station deployment period, obtained a range of perceptions and household experiences with ATSB stations, as well as ITN use in the context of ATSB deployment. Results Methods used during the study to promote acceptance and continued use of ATSBs were effective in achieving greater than 90% coverage, a high (greater than 70%) level of perceived benefits, and fewer than 10% of households reporting safety concerns. Common facilitators of acceptance included the desire for protection against malaria and reduction of mosquitoes, trust in health initiatives, and understanding of the product. Common barriers to acceptance included misconceptions of product impact on mosquitoes, continued cases of malaria, association with satanism, and damage to household structures. Discussion Future use of the ATSB intervention will likely require activities that foster community acceptance before, during, and after the intervention is introduced. Additional research may be needed to understand the impact of different levels of community engagement on ATSB station coverage, ATSB station perception, and ITN use. Conclusion There was high acceptance of ATSB stations during the trial in Western Zambia. Continuous and intense community engagement efforts contributed to sustained ATSB coverage and trust in the product. Acceptance of ATSBs during programmatic delivery requires further research.

Abstract Calderas are subcircular depressions with near-vertical walls, which are often gravitationally unstable and prone to mass movements that sequentially widen their basins. However, the details of these erosional changes are difficult to decipher due to short observational periods. Here, we use a photogrammetric dataset of nearly 80 years to study the landslide-prone south-eastern wall of Askja caldera (Iceland). We analyzed aerial data from 1945 and 1987, stereo satellite data from 2013 and 2022, and drone images acquired in 2019, 2022, and 2023. We developed an inventory of geomorphological features and identified types of slope instability. We describe over 700 features, including circa 500 fractures, 200 sinkholes, and four major landslides. We found that morphological changes were persistent over the observation period, accumulating in a sector that collapsed in 2014. We discuss various factors of slope instability at Askja including possible volcano-permafrost interaction, and other processes that could induce mass wasting.

Abstract From its inception as a two-dimensional snapshot of the beating heart, echocardiography has become an indelible part of cardiovascular diagnostics. The integration of ultrasound enhancing agents (UEAs) marks a pivotal transition, enhancing its diagnostic acumen beyond myocardial perfusion. These agents have refined echocardiography's capacity to visualize complex cardiac anatomy and pathology with unprecedented clarity, especially in non-coronary artery disease contexts. UEAs aid in detailed assessments of myocardial viability, endocardial border delineation in left ventricular opacification, and identification of intracardiac masses. Recent innovations in UEAs, accompanied by advancements in echocardiographic technology, offer clinicians a more nuanced view of cardiac function and blood flow dynamics. This review explores recent developments in these applications and future contemplated studies. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Estrogens regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes, including wide-ranging effects in wound healing. The effects of estrogens are mediated through multiple estrogen receptors (ERs), including the classical nuclear ERs (ERα and ER $${\upbeta }$$ β ), that typically regulate gene expression, and the 7-transmembrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), that predominantly mediates rapid “non-genomic” signaling. Estrogen modulates the expression of various genes involved in epidermal function and regeneration, inflammation, matrix production, and protease inhibition, all critical to wound healing. Our previous work demonstrated improved myocutaneous wound healing in female mice compared to male mice. In the current study, we employed male and female GPER knockout mice to investigate the role of this estrogen receptor in wound revascularization and tissue viability. Using a murine myocutaneous flap model of graded ischemia, we measured real-time flap perfusion via laser speckle perfusion imaging. We conducted histologic and immunohistochemical analyses to assess skin and muscle viability, microvascular density and vessel morphology. Our results demonstrate that GPER is crucial in wound healing, mediating effects that are both dependent and independent of sex. Lack of GPER expression is associated with increased skin necrosis, reduced flap perfusion and altered vessel morphology. These findings contribute to understanding GPER signaling in wound healing and suggest possible therapeutic opportunities by targeting GPER.

Abstract Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) is a widely used spectroscopic technique, providing access to the electronic structure and dynamics of atoms, molecules, and solids. However, RIXS requires a narrow bandwidth x-ray probe to achieve high spectral resolution. The challenges in delivering an energetic monochromated beam from an x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) thus limit its use in few-shot experiments, including for the study of high energy density systems. Here we demonstrate that by correlating the measurements of the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) spectrum of an XFEL with the RIXS signal, using a dynamic kernel deconvolution with a neural surrogate, we can achieve electronic structure resolutions substantially higher than those normally afforded by the bandwidth of the incoming x-ray beam. We further show how this technique allows us to discriminate between the valence structures of Fe and Fe2O3, and provides access to temperature measurements as well as M-shell binding energies estimates in warm-dense Fe compounds.

Abstract When an electromagnetic (EM) wave propagates in a medium whose properties are varied abruptly in time, the wave experiences refractions and reflections known as time-refractions and time-reflections, both manifesting spectral translation as a consequence of the abrupt change of the medium and the conservation of momentum. However, while the time-refracted wave continues to propagate with the same wave-vector, the time-reflected wave propagates backward with a conjugate phase despite the lack of any spatial interface. Importantly, while time-refraction is always significant, observing time-reflection poses a major challenge – because it requires a large change in the medium occurring within a single cycle of the EM wave. For that reason, time-reflection of EM waves was observed only recently. Here, we present the observation of microwave pulses at the highest frequency ever observed (0.59 GHz), and the experimental evidence of the phase-conjugation nature of time-reflected waves. Our experiments are carried out in a periodically-loaded microstrip line with optically-controlled picosecond-switchable photodiodes. Our system paves the way to the experimental realization of Photonic Time-Crystals at GHz frequencies.

Background: Posterior glenoid bone loss in glenohumeral osteoarthritis poses significant challenges in shoulder arthroplasty. Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with a humeral head autograft to address the glenoid bone deficiency is an option for these difficult cases. Variable results with this procedure are reported in the literature. This article describes the surgical technique of posterior glenoid bone grafting in TSA using a glenoid implant with hybrid fixation and a series of reported patient functional and radiographic outcomes. Methods: A retrospective chart review of cases from 2015 to 2020 by a single surgeon revealed 10 patients who underwent primary TSA with hybrid glenoid component and posterior glenoid bone grafting. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were assessed for glenoid inclination, glenoid version, acromiohumeral distance, humeral stem status, and glenoid implant status. Functional outcomes were evaluated by range of motion, strength, and patient-reported clinical outcomes (pain and function on a visual analog scale, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score). Complications and reoperations were also evaluated. Results: Average follow-up was 31.4 months, active forward flexion and external rotation improved on average from 105° to 150° and 20° to 60°, respectively (P < .001) and average abduction improved from 100° to 140° (P < .002). At an average of 26.7 months, patients reported assessments (visual analog scale pain and function, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores) reveal significant (P < .05) improvement in pain and functional outcomes. Radiographically, at 23.0 ± 20.1 months, all patients demonstrated a well-fixed humeral and glenoid component without evidence of lucent lines. The bone graft used in each patient was well unionized and no radiographic complications were reported. No patients underwent revision surgery, and there was one clinical complication reported, which consisted of a suspected rotator cuff injury at follow-up. Conclusion: Hybrid fixation with structural glenoid bone grafting in TSA resulted in excellent outcomes with no evidence of graft or component failure on follow-up radiographs and significantly reduced pain, improved functional scores, and improved active range of motion.

Background: Previous studies of the cortical suspensory button (CSB) implant have analyzed fixation strength as a function of suture type and surgical technique, but knot configuration remains an area of interest. This study investigates 4-strand knot configurations in CSB suspensory fixation, specifically comparing the use of 2 separate knots with a single knot. We hypothesize that using 2 knots on the distal side of the CSB with #2 suture will yield the strongest and stiffest suspensory fixation. Methods: Two types of knot configurations were compared: a single knot with all 4 suture strands versus 2 independent knots with 2 suture strands each (1 knot from inner strands and 1 knot from outer strands). They were tested using #2 or 2-0 suture, and at distal (on top of the button) or proximal (underneath the button) knot positions. Mechanical testing on the Instron measured ultimate failure load, elongation at failure, and stiffness. Statistical analyses (Shapiro-Wilk, unpaired Student’s t-tests, and Chi-square tests) assessed differences in strength, stiffness, elongation, and failure mode between knot configurations within each CSB construct combination. Results: With #2 suture, 2 knots across the CSB resulted in higher load to failure compared to 1 knot in both proximal (467.00 N vs. 554.66 N, P = .026) and distal (395.18 N vs. 526.51 N, P < .001) locations. Furthermore, 2 knots provided higher stiffness than 1 knot in both proximal (53.24 N/mm vs. 67.89 N/mm, P < .001) and distal (47.08 N/mm vs. 56.73 N/mm, P = .041) knot locations. However, using 2-0 suture showed no significant differences in failure load and stiffness regardless of knot location. Conclusion: Using #2 suture and tying 2 independent knots across the CSB increased load to failure and stiffness compared to using only 1 knot regardless of knot position. Thus, if using #2 suture, it is recommended to tie 2 knots to enhance construct strength. However, with 2-0 suture, the number of knots did not impact construct strength. Therefore, if using 2-0 suture, 1 knot can be used to save time. Knot position did not significantly affect the strength or stiffness of the CSB construct, emphasizing the importance of considering knot prominence and surgical approach for determining knot location.

Little is known about environmental transmission of Mycobacterium kansasii. We retrospectively investigated potential environmental acquisition, primarily water sources, of M. kansasii among 216 patients with pulmonary disease from an industrial city in Taiwan during 2015–2017. We analyzed sputum mycobacterial cultures using whole-genome sequencing and used hierarchical Bayesian spatial network methods to evaluate risk factors for genetic relatedness of M. kansasii strains. The mean age of participants was 67 years; 24.1% had previously had tuberculosis. We found that persons from districts served by 2 water purification plants were at higher risk of being infected with genetically related M. kansasii isolates. The adjusted odds ratios were 1.81 (1.25–2.60) for the Weng Park plant and 1.39 (1.12–1.71) for the Fongshan plant. Those findings unveiled the association between water purification plants and M. kansasii pulmonary disease, highlighting the need for further environmental investigations to evaluate the risk for M. kansasii transmission.

The relationship between learning disabilities and behavior disorders is well documented and has led to the development of integrated interventions that target both academic and behavior deficits in elementary school-age students. This paper describes the rationale for, development of and implementation of an integrated academic-behavior intervention called "academic and behavior combined support (ABC Support)." The intervention was developed by integrating the critical intervention elements from two single-focus interventions (i.e., repeated reading and check-in/check-out) into a single comprehensive intervention designed to improve reading fluency for early elementary school-age students with reading disorders while also strengthening their engagement and compliance with behavior expectations. [For the corresponding grantee submission, see ED617652.]

Although quality guidelines for single-case intervention research emphasize the importance of concurrent baselines in multiple-baseline and multiple-probe designs, nonconcurrent variations on these designs persist in the research literature. This study describes a systematic review of special education intervention studies (k = 406) between 1988 and 2020 that report using nonconcurrent multiple-baseline or multiple-probe designs to test interventions for individuals with disabilities ages 21 years and younger. We coded and synthesized study characteristics pertaining to participants, settings, interventions, data reporting, and contextual factors. Findings indicate the prevalence of nonconcurrent designs for intervention studies in a variety of settings addressing social and communication needs of individuals with disabilities. We discuss implications for research and practice and offer suggestions for improving the validity of nonconcurrent designs. A PRISMA-compliant abstract is available at https://osf.io/sdnj5/?view_only=f386b1fe5f14430a8d63fceed293718d.

Urban environments pose novel challenges for songbirds, and the degree of urbanization can influence nesting success. We used a multi-year (2013-2021) quasi-experimental design to understand the relationship between urbanization and various nesting parameters derived from 380 Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus; hereinafter BCT1) nests in nest boxes installed across an urbanization gradient (i.e., rural, and low, moderate, and high levels of urbanization) in San Marcos, Texas, USA. The number of eggs, nestlings, and fledglings per nest were negatively influenced by clutch initiation date but not by level of urbanization or year. First clutch initiation date was correlated with level of urbanization, with nests in areas with any level of urbanization being initiated approximately 12 d earlier than rural nests. First clutch initiation dates for all nests were also affected by weather, with warmer mean daily high February temperatures prompting earlier nest initiation. Nest success was similar in rural areas and in areas with low or high urbanization, but was significantly lower in moderately urbanized areas. Nest success was also negatively correlated with clutch initiation date. Overall, our results indicate that BCTI are demonstrating behavioral plasticity to urban environments with earlier lay dates, but that increasing urbanization does not reliably predict changes in nest success. Thus, different degrees of urbanization potentially act as source-sink locations for BCTI populations. Received 8 January 2023. Accepted 12 December 2023. Key words: clutch initiation, nesting season, reproductive success, titmouse, urban gradient. Los entornos urbanos plantean desafios para las aves canoras y el grado de urbanizacion puede influir en el exito de la anidacion. Utilizamos un disen o cuasiexperimental de varios anos (2013-2021) para comprender la relation entre la urbanizacion y varios parametros de anidaci6n derivados de 380 nidos del carbonero Baeolophus atricristatus (en adelante BCTI) en cajas nido instaladas a lo largo de un gradiente de urbanizacion (es decir, rural y niveles de urbanizacion bajos, moderados y altos) en San Marcos, Texas, EE. UU. El numero de huevos, polluelos y polluelos por nido estuvo influenciado negativamente por la fecha de inicio de la nidada, pero no por el nivel de urbanizacion o el ano. La fecha de inicio de la primera puesta se correlaciono con el nivel de urbanizaci6n, y los nidos en areas con cualquier nivel de urbanizacion se iniciaron aproximadamente 12 d antes que los nidos rurales. Las fechas de inicio de la primera nidada para todos los nidos tambien se vieron afectadas por el clima, con temperaturas altas promedio diarias mas calidas en febrero que provocaron un inicio mas temprano de los nidos. El exito de los nidos fue similar en areas rurales y en areas con baja o alta urbanizaci6n, pero rue significativa-mente menor en areas moderadamente urbanizadas. El exito del nido tambien se correlaciono negativamente con la fecha de inicio de la nidada. En general, nuestros resultados indican que los BCTI muestra plasticidad conductual en ambientes urbanos con fechas de puesta mas tempranas, pero que el aumento de la urbanizacion no predice de manera confiable cambios en el exito de los nidos. Por lo tanto, diferentes grados de urbanizacion actuan potencialmente como lugares de fuente y sumidero para las poblaciones del BCTI. Palabras clave: carbonero, exito reproductivo, gradiente urbano, inicio de puesta, temporada de anidacion., Urbanization rapidly changes landscapes by fragmenting habitat, altering natural resources, creating microclimate shifts, and introducing novel predators and food sources into the food web (Dirzo and Raven 2003, McKee et [...]

The close phylogenetic relationship between humans and great apes results in similarities in infection susceptibility and a high potential for pathogen exchange (2,2). Despite this zoonotic potential, previous studies of [...]