Gentlemen, husbandmen, and industrious wives: The role of gender in imagining Indian agriculture.

The Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India (AHSI), founded in 1820, remains the most important producer of English-language knowledge regarding the cultivation of plants in colonial India. Members included missionaries, colonial officials, tea and indigo planters, merchants and bankers, as well as the Bengali bhadralok elites of Calcutta and some Indian princes. The writings it produced were highly gendered. Often they focus on how "improving" the political economy and agricultural productivity would create masculine identities, such as gentlemen landowners and industrious peasant husbandman. Yet I also argue that women's agricultural work was fundamental in imagining this path towards "improvement." Using descriptions of Indian farming and labor practices from the Society's meeting minutes and published transactions, as well as additional writings by its members and missionary founders, I show how many European members of the Society viewed women working outside of domestic pursuits as a sign of Indian inferiority. At the same time, many argued for the benefits of women's work, which they viewed as fundamental in making Indian households more productive. Women and their labor were a lynchpin in creating the idea of the effeminate Indian man as well as the solution for improving him. It was this intersection of race with gender which helped to define agriculture as a discipline much closer to practical knowledge than abstract science. While some European women were able to participate in the Society's production of scientific knowledge because of agriculture's practical nature, Indian knowledge (whether from men or women) tended to be openly dismissed as tradition or habit rather than truly practical. The overlap of gender with race consequently helped to create a hierarchy between practical knowledge and tradition.

Relational vulnerability in motherhood-an existential perspective on pain and exhaustion among women.

Introduction: Stress-related ill-health like pain and exhaustion are demanding public health problems in Europe. In Sweden, women are particularly at risk to develop stress-related ill-health during a period in life that coincides with child-rearing years. When entering motherhood, Swedish women's sick leave substantially increases. Yet, motherhood is rarely acknowledged in clinical encounters concerning pain and exhaustion although women suffer from these ailments more often than men. To incorporate motherhood as an existential dimension of health in the care of women living with pain and exhaustion might alleviate women's suffering. But knowledge on women's experiences of motherhood and health is scarce. Therefore, the aim of the study is to reach a deeper understanding of how women suffering from long-lasting pain and exhaustion experience their health in relation to motherhood. Methods: Ricoeur's interpretation theory has been applied to analyze 27 phenomenological interviews with 14 mothers suffering from long-lasting pain and exhaustion. Results: These women's experiences shed light on how closely motherhood is interwoven with the experience of their health and suffering: The women's suffering seems to be rooted in a relational vulnerability that has been uncovered during motherhood. Further, the women suffer from a burden of difficult life experiences and inner conflicts. Reconciliation with life is possible when women find an existential shelter, which offers ways to relate to their suffering making the own suffering more bearable.

A case for using methods from natural science in advancing the field of cognitive neuroscience.

Cognitive neuroscience seeks to pinpoint the neural basis of cognitive function. Application of scientific methods can be credited for its advancement within the field of psychology. Past approaches such as phrenology, that linked bumps on the skull to mental capabilities, initially gained popularity, but the lack of experimental testing contributed to its demise. Research in neuropsychology and the use of the double dissociation experimental technique subsequently emerged. Objective measurements of behaviour following selective damage within the brain led to a paradigm shift. More recently, application of the subtraction technique, coupled with the emergence of cognitive neuroimaging tools, has allowed psychologists to isolate and measure specific functions such as language, vision, memory, and recognition of emotion. Importantly, these approaches enable reliable prediction of behaviours, given parameters of brain integrity, a key goal within the field of psychology.

Geotraceability of Falanghina del Sannio (South Italy): Preliminary mineralogical and isotopic data.

The present study gathers mineralogical and isotopic geochemical data of 45 soil samples collected from the La Guardiense and Cantina di Solopaca wineries (Southern Italy) in order to provide useful information for the geotraceability of Falanghina white wine terroir. Mineralogical analyses show the ubiquitous presence of quartz, frequent and moderate contents of feldspars and phyllosilicates (i.e., illite/mica, kaolinite, and smectite). Rhizosphere soils from La Guardiense vineyards show a strontium isotope signature (87Sr/86Sr) ranging from 0.708604 to 0.711234 (average 0.710334; 1σ = 0.000943; n = 7) for the total fraction and a narrower range (from 0.706907 to 0.708807; average 0.708120; 1σ = 0.000641; n = 7) for the bioavailable one. For the rhizosphere soils collected from the vineyards of Cantina di Solopaca winery, 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.708268 to 0.712413 (average 0.710145; 1σ = 0.001622; n = 8) and from 0.707968 to 0.709157 (average 0.708384; 1σ = 0.000409; n = 8) for the total and the bioavailable fraction, respectively. Actually, the bioavailable Sr fraction shows a narrower range of 87Sr/86Sr ratios compared to that of the total fraction, making the former more suitable for any study of wine traceability.

Effect-Size Discrepancies in Literature Versus Raw Datasets from Experimental Spinal Cord Injury Studies: A CLIMBER Meta-Analysis.

Translation of spinal cord injury (SCI) therapeutics from pre-clinical animal studies into human studies is challenged by effect size variability, irreproducibility, and misalignment of evidence used by pre-clinical versus clinical literature. Clinical literature values reproducibility, with the highest grade evidence (class 1) consisting of meta-analysis demonstrating large therapeutic efficacy replicating across multiple studies. Conversely, pre-clinical literature values novelty over replication and lacks rigorous meta-analyses to assess reproducibility of effect sizes across multiple articles. Here, we applied modified clinical meta-analysis methods to pre-clinical studies, comparing effect sizes extracted from published literature to raw data on individual animals from these same studies. Literature-extracted data (LED) from numerical and graphical outcomes reported in publications were compared with individual animal data (IAD) deposited in a federally supported repository of SCI data. The animal groups from the IAD were matched with the same cohorts in the LED for a direct comparison. We applied random-effects meta-analysis to evaluate predictors of neuroconversion in LED versus IAD. We included publications with common injury models (contusive injuries) and standardized end-points (open field assessments). The extraction of data from 25 published articles yielded n = 1841 subjects, whereas IAD from these same articles included n = 2441 subjects. We observed differences in the number of experimental groups and animals per group, insufficient reporting of dropout animals, and missing information on experimental details. Meta-analysis revealed differences in effect sizes across LED versus IAD stratifications, for instance, severe injuries had the largest effect size in LED (standardized mean difference [SMD = 4.92]), but mild injuries had the largest effect size in IAD (SMD = 6.06). Publications with smaller sample sizes yielded larger effect sizes, while studies with larger sample sizes had smaller effects. The results demonstrate the feasibility of combining IAD analysis with traditional LED meta-analysis to assess effect size reproducibility in SCI.

The Development and Reliability of an Updated Dance-Specific Star Excursion Balance Test Protocol.

Background: While the previous research has made crucial developments in a dance-specific version of the SEBT, current modifications to the SEBT have not conclusively produced a valid dance-specific dynamic balance test. Purpose: The aim of this paper was to utilize the most practical dance-specific variations from previous research and incorporate them into a reliable test to be considered for future screenings for dancers. Methods: Twenty-one female dancers voluntarily took part in the research (age: 20.86 ± 3.68 years). This protocol consists of 3 stages, each increasing in difficulty; stage one: dsSEBT Average Tempo, stage two: dsSEBT Block, and stage three: a combination of stage 1 and stage 2, the dsSEBT Average Tempo on Block. Reach distance (% of limb length), error scores, and average time to complete each stage were recorded. A stage completion criteria was developed to move from one stage to the next wherein certain reach distance and error score standards needed to be met. Results: Between previous research using the same participants and the current study, each reach direction exhibits a statistically significant correlation (P < .05) with good to excellent ICC values ranging from .750 to .918, suggesting that test-retest reliability is high. Overall, 90.48% of participants succeeded in passing stage one, 19.05% of total participants passed stage two, and only 4.76% of the 21 participants passed all 3 stages with statistically significant differences detected for reach distance and incomplete trials between stages (P < .05). Conclusion: This data suggests that the test is challenging enough to show dancers weaknesses and push the limits of their balance capabilities. With a clear increase in difficulty from stage to stage, the test adds layers of demanding tasks designed to test the dancer proprioceptively.

Can 'Script Elicitation' Methods Be Used to Promote Physical Activity? An Acceptability Study.

Sustaining physical activity may require incorporating activity into everyday routines. Yet, many such routines are executed habitually, so people may not recognise physical activity opportunities. 'Script Elicitation'-a novel intervention method whereby participants detail the content and structure of their routines and are supported to plan modifications to those routines-has not yet been applied to physical activity. This mixed-methods study assessed the acceptability of Script Elicitation for increasing physical activity among office workers. Eleven UK office workers completed the one-to-one Script Elicitation procedure, describing their typical before-, during-, or after-work routines and receiving guidance on incorporating activity into those routines. One week later, they rated the acceptability of the method and completed a semi-structured interview. Physical activity was self-reported at baseline and at the one-week follow-up. Acceptability was descriptively assessed on two quantitative criteria (no clear decrease in physical activity; above-midpoint acceptability scores) and qualitatively explored via Thematic Analysis. The acceptability criteria were met, and participants reported raised awareness of routines and physical activity increases. Script Elicitation appears potentially suitable for promoting activity within everyday routines. If effectiveness is shown in a more rigorous trial, future work will need to develop script-based methods for efficient delivery at scale as a public health intervention.

Biotechnology executive order opens door for regulatory reform and social acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture.

In the United States, regulatory review of genetically engineered microbes for agriculture falls under the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (CFRB). However, the lack of a centralized regulatory pathway and multiple oversight authorities can lead to uncertainty in regulatory review. Using three microbial-based technologies for agriculture as illustrative examples, this commentary identifies the weaknesses and challenges associated with the CFRB by assessing the current system and proposed changes to the system under a multi criteria decision analysis framework. In addition, it discusses opportunities for regulatory reform to improve clarity, efficiency, and public acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture under the CHIPS and Science Act and the 2022 Executive Order on the Bioeconomy.

Skin locations inference and body fluid identification from skin microbial patterns for forensic applications.

Given that microbiological analysis can be an alternative method that overcomes the shortcomings of traditional forensic technology, and skin samples may be the most common source of cases, the analysis of skin microbiome was investigated in this study. High-throughput sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was performed to reveal the skin microbiome of healthy individuals in Guangdong Han. The bacterial diversity of the palm, navel, groin and plantar of the same individual was analyzed. The overall classification based on 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed that the microbial composition of skin samples from different anatomical parts was different, and the dominant bacterial genus of the navel, plantar, groin and palm skin were dominated by Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus, respectively. PCoA analysis showed that the skin at these four anatomical locations could only be grouped into three clusters. A predictive model based on random forest algorithm showed the potential to accurately distinguish these four anatomical locations, which indicated that specific bacteria with low abundance were the key taxa. In addition, the skin microbiome in this study is significantly different from the dominant microbiome in saliva and vaginal secretions identified in our previous study, and can be distinguished from these two tissue fluids. In conclusion, the present findings on the community and microbial structure details of the human skin may reveal its potential application value in assessing the location of skin samples and the type of body fluids in forensic medicine.

Coordinated lunar time (LTC): Implications of a lunar-centric time zone on astronaut health and space medicine.

Lunar exploration offers an exciting opportunity for humanity to advance scientific knowledge and future potential economic growth and possibly allow humans to become a multi-planetary species. On April 2, 2024 the US Office of Science and Technology Policy released a memorandum outlining the current Biden-Harris Administration's policy on the need to establish time standards at celestial bodies other than Earth. This memorandum also introduced the need for Coordinated Lunar Time (CLT), the concept of having a reference time for the moon. The establishment of CLT would provide a multitude of benefits for astronaut health, from expedition planning, to maintaining a sense of order in an austere environment. International agreements and collaboration will be required prior to the recognition of CLT.

Spectral characterization of intraoperative renal perfusion using hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence.

Accurate intraoperative assessment of organ perfusion is a pivotal determinant in preserving organ function e.g. during kidney surgery including partial nephrectomy or kidney transplantation. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has great potential to objectively describe and quantify this perfusion as opposed to conventional surrogate techniques such as ultrasound flowmeter, indocyanine green or the subjective eye of the surgeon. An established live porcine model under general anesthesia received median laparotomy and renal mobilization. Different scenarios that were measured using HSI were (1) complete, (2) gradual and (3) partial malperfusion. The differences in spectral reflectance as well as HSI oxygenation (StO2) between different perfusion states were compelling and as high as 56.9% with 70.3% (± 11.0%) for "physiological" vs. 13.4% (± 3.1%) for "venous congestion". A machine learning (ML) algorithm was able to distinguish between these perfusion states with a balanced prediction accuracy of 97.8%. Data from this porcine study including 1300 recordings across 57 individuals was compared to a human dataset of 104 recordings across 17 individuals suggesting clinical transferability. Therefore, HSI is a highly promising tool for intraoperative microvascular evaluation of perfusion states with great advantages over existing surrogate techniques. Clinical trials are required to prove patient benefit.

Site-initiated adaptations in the implementation of an evidence-based inpatient walking program.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition of the importance of maximizing program-setting fit in scaling and spreading effective programs. However, in the context of hospital-based mobility programs, there is limited information on how settings could consider local context and modify program characteristics or implementation activities to enhance fit. To fill this gap, we examined site-initiated adaptations to STRIDE, a hospital-based mobility program for older Veterans, at eight Veterans Affairs facilities across the United States. METHODS: STRIDE was implemented at eight hospitals in a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. During the pre-implementation phase, sites were encouraged to adapt program characteristics to optimize implementation and align with their hospital's resources, needs, and culture. Recommended adaptations included those related to staffing models, marketing, and documentation. To assess the number and types of adaptations, multiple data sources were reviewed, including implementation support notes from site-level support calls and group-based learning collaborative sessions. Adaptations were classified based on the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME), including attention to what was adapted, when, why, and by whom. We reviewed the number and types of adaptations across sites that did and did not sustain STRIDE, defined as continued program delivery during the post-implementation period. RESULTS: A total of 25 adaptations were reported and classified across seven of the eight sites. Adaptations were reported across five areas: program documentation (n = 13), patient eligibility criteria (n = 5), program enhancements (n = 3), staffing model (n = 2), and marketing and recruitment (n = 2). More than one-half of adaptations were planned. Adaptations were common in both sustaining and non-sustaining sites. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptations were common within a program designed with flexible implementation in mind. Identifying common areas of planned and unplanned adaptations within a flexible program such as STRIDE may contribute to more efficient and effective national scaling. Future research should evaluate the relationship between adaptations and program implementation.

Harnessing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Decipher Structure and Dynamics of Clathrate Hydrates in Confinement: A Perspective.

This perspective outlines recent developments in the field of NMR spectroscopy, enabling new opportunities for in situ studies on bulk and confined clathrate hydrates. These hydrates are crystalline ice-like materials, built up from hydrogen-bonded water molecules, forming cages occluding non-polar gaseous guest molecules, including CH4, CO2 and even H2 and He gas. In nature, they are found in low-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Synthetic confined versions hold immense potential for energy storage and transportation, as well as for carbon capture and storage. Using previous studies, this report highlights static and magic angle spinning NMR hardware and strategies enabling the study of clathrate hydrate formation in situ, in bulk and in nano-confinement. The information obtained from such studies includes phase identification, dynamics, gas exchange processes, mechanistic studies and the molecular-level elucidation of the interactions between water, guest molecules and confining interfaces.

Validation of Citizen Science Meteorological Data: Can They Be Considered a Valid Help in Weather Understanding and Community Engagement?

Citizen science has emerged as a potent approach for environmental monitoring, leveraging the collective efforts of volunteers to gather data at unprecedented scales. Within the framework of the I-CHANGE project, MeteoTracker, a citizen science initiative, was employed to collect meteorological measurements. Through MeteoTracker, volunteers contributed to a comprehensive dataset, enabling insights into local weather patterns and trends. This paper presents the analysis and the results of the validation of such observations against the official Italian civil protection in situ weather network, demonstrating the effectiveness of citizen science in generating valuable environmental data. The work discusses the methodology employed, including data collection and statistical analysis techniques, i.e., time-series analysis, spatial and temporal interpolation, and correlation analysis. The overall analysis highlights the high quality and reliability of citizen-generated data as well as the strengths of the MeteoTracker platform. Furthermore, our findings underscore the potential of citizen science to augment traditional monitoring efforts, inform decision-making processes in environmental research and management, and improve the social awareness about environmental and climate issues.

Skimmianine Showed Neuroprotection against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of skimmianine on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Twenty-four female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, Ischemia-Reperfusion (IR), and IR + Skimmianine (40 mg/kg Skimmianine). Cerebral ischemia was induced using a monofilament nylon suture to occlude the middle cerebral artery for 60 min. Following 23 h of reperfusion, the animals were sacrificed 14 days later. The effects of skimmianine on brain tissue post-IR injury were examined through biochemical and immunochemical analyses. In silico analysis using the Enrichr platform explored skimmianine's potential biological processes involving IBA-1, IL-6, and NF-κB proteins. In the IR group, MDA levels increased, while SOD and CAT antioxidant enzyme activities decreased. In the IR + Skimmianine group, skimmianine treatment resulted in decreased MDA levels and increased SOD and CAT activities. Significant increases in IBA-1 expression were observed in the IR group, which skimmianine treatment significantly reduced, modulating microglial activation. High levels of IL-6 expression were noted in pyramidal neurons, vascular structures, and neuroglial cells in the IR group; skimmianine treatment reduced IL-6 expression, demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects. Increased NF-κB expression was observed in neurons and blood vessels in the gray and white matter in the IR group; skimmianine treatment reduced NF-κB expression. Gene Ontology results suggest skimmianine impacts immune and inflammatory responses via IBA-1 and IL-6, with potential effects on estrogen mechanisms mediated by NF-κB. Skimmianine may be a potential therapeutic strategy due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on cerebral IR injury.

POTENTIAL OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL "BLUE PILLS" TO DEMYSTIFY STIGMAS ABOUT HIV THROUGH CURRICULAR CONTENT / POTENCIAL DE LA NOVELA GRÁFICA "PÍLDORAS AZULES" EN DESMITIFICAR ESTIGMAS SOBRE EL VIH ATRAVÉ DE CONTENIDOS CURRICULARES / POTENCIAL DO ROMANCE GRÁFICO "PÍLULAS AZUIS" EM DESMISTIFICAR ESTIGMAS SOBRE HIV ATRAVÉS DOS CONTEÚDOS CURRICULARES

Despite advances in public policy and health care, it is estimated that more than 1 million people in Brazil live with HIV. Health education is an important prophylactic measure that could help disseminate information to reduce the increase in cases. Among the various strategies used in educational processes, visual media are strong allies due to their significant communication potential. The objective of this study was to analyze the graphic novel "Blue Pills" to identify its potential for addressing HIV in science and biology education. "Blue Pills" is an autobiographical graphic novel by Frederik Peeters that depicts his challenges and anxieties upon discovering that his girlfriend, Cati, and her son are HIV positive. We conducted a content analysis of the work, examining both visual and textual elements to evaluate its potential use in teaching. Our analysis identified 67 excerpts related to the research topic, which we categorized into five themes: "Prejudices and Stigmas," "Care and Treatment," "Transmission and Reproduction of the Virus," "Emotional and Psychological Impacts," and "Social View of Science." Peeters effectively presents HIV in an empathetic and accessible manner, contextualizing complex and often stigmatized issues for readers. Consequently, we believe the material has potential for educational use, despite existing restrictions in the Brazilian National Common Curricular Base (BNCC). Additionally, it contributes to the social debate on issues pertinent to the daily lives of HIV-positive individuals, helping to demystify stigmas entrenched in the collective imagination.

A pesar de los avances en políticas públicas y atención sanitaria, se estima que en Brasil más de 1 millón de personas viven con VIH. La educación sanitaria es un proceso de profilaxis importante que puede contribuir a la difusión de información para mitigar el aumento de casos. Entre las diferentes estrategias utilizadas en los procesos educativos, los productos visuales son fuertes aliados debido a su gran potencial comunicativo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la novela gráfica "Píldoras Azules" con el fin de identificar su potencial para abordar el VIH en la educación en ciencias y biología. "Píldoras Azules" es una novela gráfica autobiográfica de Frederik Peeters que presenta sus desafíos y angustias al descubrir que su novia Cati y su hijo son VIH positivos. Realizamos un análisis de contenido de la obra, observando los elementos visuales y textuales que pueden posibilitar su uso en la docencia. Tras el análisis, identificamos 67 extractos con enfoques relacionados con el tema objeto de la investigación. Los extractos están organizados en 5 categorías: "Prejuicios y estigmas", "Cuidado y tratamiento", "Transmisión y reproducción del virus", "Impactos emocionales y psicológicos" y "Visión social de la ciencia". En su obra, Peeters logra abordar el VIH de una manera empática y fácil de entender, contextualizando temas complejos y reprimidos en la sociedad para el lector. Por lo tanto, entendemos que el material presenta posibilidades de uso en la enseñanza, a pesar de las restricciones existentes en el BNCC, además de aportar al debate social cuestiones pertinentes a la vida cotidiana de las personas VIH positivas, desmitificando estigmas presentes en el imaginario colectivo.

Apesar dos avanços em políticas públicas e atendimento à saúde, estima-se que no Brasil mais de 1 milhão de pessoas vivam com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). A educação em saúde é um importante processo de profilaxia que pode contribuir na disseminação de informações que atenuam o aumento de casos. Dentre as diferentes estratégias utilizadas nos processos educativos, os produtos imagéticos são fortemente aliados devido ao seu grande potencial de comunicação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o Romance Gráfico (RG) Pílulas Azuis a fim de identificar seu potencial para abordagem sobre o HIV no ensino de ciências e biologia. Pílulas Azuis é um RG autobiográfico de Frederik Peeters que apresenta seus desafios e angústias ao descobrir que sua namorada Cati e seu filho são soropositivos. Realizamos Análise de Conteúdo na obra demonstrando os elementos imagéticos e textuais que podem possibilitar seu uso no ensino. Após a análise, identificamos 67 trechos com abordagens relacionadas ao tema alvo da pesquisa. Os trechos foram organizados em 5 categorias: "preconceitos e estigmas", "Cuidado e tratamento", "Transmissão e reprodução do vírus", "Impactos emocionais e psicológicos" e "Visão social da Ciência". Peeters consegue em sua obra trazer o HIV de forma empática e com fácil compreensão, contextualizando ao leitor temas complexos e reprimidos na sociedade. Assim, identificamos que o material apresenta potencial de utilização no ensino, apesar das restrições existentes na BNCC, assim como trazer para o debate questões sociais pertinentes ao cotidiano de pessoas soropositivas, desmistificando estigmas presentes no imaginário coletivo.

Understanding spatiotemporal effects of food supplementation on host-parasite interactions using community-based science.

Supplemental feeding can increase the overall health of animals but also can have variable effects on how animals defend themselves against parasites. However, the spatiotemporal effects of food supplementation on host-parasite interactions remain poorly understood, likely because large-scale, coordinated efforts to investigate them are difficult. Here, we introduce the Nest Parasite Community Science Project, which is a community-based science project that coordinates studies with bird nest box 'stewards' from the public and scientific community. This project was established to understand broad ecological patterns between hosts and their parasites. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of food supplementation on eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and their nest parasite community across the geographic range of the bluebirds from 2018 to 2021. We received 674 nests from 69 stewards in 26 states in the eastern United States. Nest box stewards reported whether or not they provided mealworms or suet near nesting bluebirds, then they followed the nesting success of the birds (number of eggs laid and hatched, proportion that hatched, number and proportion of nestlings that successfully fledged). We then identified and quantified parasites in the nests. Overall, we found that food supplementation increased fledging success. The most common nest parasite taxon was the parasitic blow fly (Protocalliphora sialia), but a few nests contained fleas (Ceratophyllus idius, C. gallinae and Orchopeas leucopus) and mites (Dermanyssus spp. and Ornithonyssus spp.). Blow flies were primarily found at northern latitudes, where food supplementation affected blow fly prevalence. However, the direction of this effect varied substantially in direction and magnitude across years. More stewards fed bluebirds at southern latitudes than at northern latitudes, which contradicts the findings of other community-based science projects. Overall, food supplementation of birds was associated with increased host fitness but did not appear to play a consistent role in defence against these parasites across all years. Our study demonstrates the importance of coordinated studies across years and locations to understand the effects of environmental heterogeneity, including human-based food supplementation, on host-parasite dynamics.

Development of a cyclic ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry-based collision cross-section database of permethylated human milk oligosaccharides.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are an important class of biomolecules responsible for the healthy development of the brain-gut axis of infants. Unfortunately, their accurate characterization is largely precluded due to a variety of reasons - there are over 200 possible HMO structures whereas only 10s of these are available as authentic analytical standards. Furthermore, their isomeric heterogeneity stemming from their many possible glycosidic linkage positions and corresponding α/ß anomericities further complicates their analyses. While liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry remains the gold standard for HMO analyses, it often times cannot resolve all possible isomeric species and thus warrants the development of other orthogonal approaches. High-resolution ion mobility spectrometry coupled to mass spectrometry has emerged as a rapid alternative to condensed-phase separations but largely has remained limited to qualitative information related to the resolution of isomers. In this work, we have assessed the use of permethylation to improve both the resolution and sensitivity of HMO analyses with cyclic ion mobility separations coupled with mass spectrometry. In addition to this, we have developed the first-ever high-resolution collision cross-section database for permethylated HMOs using our previously established calibration protocol. We envision that this internal reference database generated from high-resolution cyclic ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry will greatly aid in the accurate characterization of HMOs and provide a valuable, orthogonal, approach to existing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based methods.

Masquerade of authority: hijacked journals are gaining more credibility than original ones.

At the moment, the academic world is faced with various challenges that negatively impact science integrity. One is hijacked journals, a second, inauthentic website for indexed legitimate journals, managed by cybercriminals. These journals publish any manuscript by charging authors and pose a risk to scientific integrity. This piece compares a journal's original and hijacked versions regarding authority in search engines. A list of 16 medical journals, along with their hijacked versions, has been collected. The MOZ Domain Authority has been used to check the authority of both original and hijacked journals, and the results have been discussed. It indicates that hijacked journals are gaining more credibility than original ones. This should alarm academia and highlights a need for serious action against hijacked journals. The related policies should be planned, and tools should be developed to support easy detection of hijacked journals. On the publishers' side, the visibility of journals' websites must be enhanced to address this issue.