Low vitamin D associated with high parathyroid hormone (PTH) is common in HIV infection. We determined the association between total 25(OH)D and PTH in adolescents living with HIV, in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Adolescents (11–19 years) perinatally infected with HIV and established on antiretroviral therapy for ≥ 6 months were recruited into a cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, anthropometry measured and fasted serum concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D, total 25(OH)D and intact PTH measured. The association between total 25(OH)D and PTH was examined using natural cubic spline regression. 842 participants (female: 53·2%) with a median age of 15·5 (IQR: 13·2–17·9) years were enrolled. Median antiretroviral therapy duration was 9·8 (IQR: 6·3–12·3) years, and 165/841 had an HIV viral-load >60 copies/ml. Stunting (height-for-age z-score <–2) and underweight (weight-for-age z-score <–2) were observed in 29·9 and 30·0%, respectively. Three-quarters reported daily Ca intakes <150 mg/d. The mean (sd) concentrations of total 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D were 66·1(16·5) nmol/l and 210·6 (70·4) pmol/l, respectively, and median PTH level was 4·3 (IQR: 3·3–5·5) pmol/l. There was an inverse non-linear relationship between total 25(OH)D and PTH, 25(OH)D levelling off at 74·6 nmol/l (95 % CI: 74·5, 75·2). Results were consistent in those taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and virally unsuppressed participants. In this population with extremely low habitual Ca intakes, the lack of association between 25(OH)D and PTH when 25(OH)D exceeded 75 nmol/l potentially suggests that levels of 25(OH)D >75 nmol/l may need to be achieved to improve bone health; investigation is needed in future research studies.

From early on, infants show a preference for infant-directed speech (IDS) over adult-directed speech (ADS), and exposure to IDS has been correlated with language outcome measures such as vocabulary. The present multi-laboratory study explores this issue by investigating whether there is a link between early preference for IDS and later vocabulary size. Infants’ preference for IDS was tested as part of the ManyBabies 1 project, and follow-up CDI data were collected from a subsample of this dataset at 18 and 24 months. A total of 341 (18 months) and 327 (24 months) infants were tested across 21 laboratories. In neither preregistered analyses with North American and UK English, nor exploratory analyses with a larger sample did we find evidence for a relation between IDS preference and later vocabulary. We discuss implications of this finding in light of recent work suggesting that IDS preference measured in the laboratory has low test-retest reliability.

Automated dispensers that dilute concentrated disinfectants with water are commonly used in healthcare facilities. In a point-prevalence product evaluation, 9 of 10 (90%) hospitals using dilutable disinfectants had 1 or more malfunctioning dispensers. Twenty-nine of 107 (27.1%) systems dispensed product with lower-than-expected concentrations, including 15 (14.0%) with no detectable disinfectant.

For the Western Indian Ocean region, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding marine turtle nesting on the continental coast of East Africa. Here we present results from a long-term (2000–2020) community-based monitoring programme in and around Watamu Marine National Park, Kenya, covering 30 km of coastline (c. 6% of the national total). Conservation actions effectively protected nesting turtles and resulted in a near-total cessation of illegal egg harvesting in Watamu Marine National Park. Collected data indicate this is an important marine turtle nesting index site in Kenya and the wider region. Green turtle Chelonia mydas nests were most common (95%), followed by olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea (4%), with occasional nests of hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea. Clutches per season increased significantly over the 20-year monitoring period for green turtles (50%) and showed a positive trend for olive ridley turtles. Watamu remains an area at risk from human pressures such as coastal development. Clutch distribution along the Watamu Marine National Park beach has shifted over time, probably because of coastal development and disturbance. Illegal take of adults and eggs continues in areas north and south of the Watamu Marine National Park, possibly slowing rates of recovery. Clutches deemed at risk were moved to a safe location within the National Park, and hatching success was high. Continued conservation efforts, including wider engagement with stakeholders to reduce human pressures, are needed to ensure the perpetuation of this nesting site.

A 47-year-old with repaired ventricular septal defect and pulmonary valve stenosis as a child presents with chronic intermittent chest pain. CT evaluation for transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement revealed right coronary artery compression between a sternal wire and dilated right ventricle. Removal of the sternal wire resulted in improved symptoms.

Background: Exercise is commonly recommended to patients following a lumbar microdiscectomy although controversy remains as to the timing and protocols for exercise intervention (early vs late intervention). Our study aimed to evaluate low back pain level, fear avoidance, neurodynamic mobility, and function after early versus later exercise intervention following a unilateral lumbar microdiscectomy. Methods: Forty patients who underwent unilateral lumbar microdiscectomy were randomly allocated to early (Group-1) or later (Group-2) exercise intervention group. The low back pain and fear avoidance were evaluated using Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. The neurodynamic mobility and function were recorded with Dualer Pro IQ Inclinometer, 50-foot walk test, and Patient-Specific Functional Scale. Measurements were performed before surgery and post-surgery (1-2, 4-6, and 8-10 weeks) after exercise intervention. Results: Both groups showed a significant decrease in low back pain levels and fear avoidance as well as a significant improvement in neurodynamic mobility and function at 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery. No significant difference was detected between the two groups. Conclusions: These findings showed that early exercise intervention after lumbar microdiscectomy is safe and may reduce the low back pain, decrease fear avoidance, and improve neurodynamic mobility and function.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: NSF often requires cross-disciplinary team composition to be competitive for funding. To what extent do research teams have multidisciplinary authorships after they win an award, given that awards are not contracts? We examined the quantity and quality of multidisciplinary collaboration of NSF-funded teams before and after receiving their award. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Our sample was 150 PIs and Co-PIs (67% male) from 58 NSF-funded EAGER (EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) grants between 2013 and 2019. Using publicly available information, we collected the number of conference papers, publications, and grants PIs/co-PIs produced with each other (all PIs and co-PIs in a team or a partial subset). Based on Ph.D. fields, we also cataloged whether the combination of PIs/co-PI authors on outputs represented unidisciplinary or multidisciplinary collaboration after their NSF award. Multidisciplinary collaboration consisted of multidivisional (Ph.D. disciplines across NSF divisions, e.g., political science and cognitive psychology) or multidirectorate (Ph.D. disciplines across NSF directorates, e.g., psychology and engineering) authorship. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Of the 74% of PI and co-PI teams who collaborated after their EAGER award, almost 9 out of 10 chose to work with a collaborator from a different discipline, and almost 8 out of 10 chose to work with a researcher from an extremely diverse discipline from their own (e.g., computer science and psychology). Research on interdisciplinary teams largely emphasizes the challenges and problems they face but the current research demonstrated that 90% of the sample chose to continue working together across disciplines after EAGER awards. Therefore, future research should dedicate more attention to the nontangible benefits members receive in interdisciplinary teams. Moreover, quality measures revealed higher H-indices for multidisciplinary than unidisciplinary journals and conferences. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our archival results revealed that NSF EAGER grants are having their intended effect of being a catalyst for 1) continued multidisciplinary (and especially multidirectorate) collaboration) and 2) high-quality multidisciplinary publication and conference output. These results have contributed to NSF policy changes to reinstate the EAGER grant.

This study focused on a jellyfish monitoring and sampling programme along the eastern Qatar seawaters and reports the first jellyfish records for the Qatar pelagic ecosystem and the occurrence of three scyphozoans: the semaeostome Chrysaora cf. caliparea and the rhizostomes Marivagia stellata and Catostylus perezi, considered as first records of Scyphomedusae for Qatar. Jellyfish monitoring, underwater photography and sample collection were carried out along an inshore-offshore transect composed of five stations along the eastern coast of Qatar. Jellyfish material examined, systematic description, general distribution and sting risk of the three species are provided. The discussion section highlights the blooming capabilities of Chrysaora cf. caliparea and Catostylus perezi, while Marivagia stellata seems scarcer, being spotted for the first time since we started our jellyfish investigation programme in August 2018.

Objective. The efficacy of individualized, community-based physical activity as an adjunctive smoking cessation treatment to enhance long-term smoking cessation rates was evaluated for the Lifestyle Enhancement Program (LEAP). Methods. The study was a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. All participants (n = 392) received cessation counseling and a nicotine patch and were randomized to physical activity (n = 199; YMCA membership and personalized exercise programming from a health coach) or an equal contact frequency wellness curriculum (n = 193). Physical activity treatment was individualized and flexible (with each participant selecting types of activities and intensity levels and being encouraged to exercise at the YMCA and at home, as well as to use “lifestyle” activity). The primary outcome (biochemically verified prolonged abstinence at 7-weeks (end of treatment) and 6- and 12-months postcessation) and secondary outcomes (7-day point prevalent tobacco abstinence (PPA), total minutes per week of leisure time physical activity and strength training) were assessed at baseline, 7 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. Results. Prolonged abstinence in the physical activity and wellness groups was 19.6% and 25.4%, respectively, at 7-weeks, 15.1% and 16.6% at 6-months, and 14.1% and 17.1% at 12 months (all between-group P values >0.18). Similarly, PPA rates did not differ significantly between groups at any follow-up. Change from baseline leisure-time activity plus strength training increased significantly in the physical activity group at 7 weeks (P = 0.04). Across treatment groups, an increase in the number of minutes per week in strength training from baseline to 7 weeks predicted prolonged abstinence at 12 months (P ≤ 0.001). Further analyses revealed that social support, fewer years smoked, and less temptation to smoke were associated with prolonged abstinence over 12 months in both groups. Conclusions. Community-based physical activity programming, delivered as adjunctive treatment with behavioral/pharmacological cessation treatment, did not improve long-term quit rates compared to adjunctive wellness counseling plus behavioral/pharmacological cessation treatment. This trial is registered with https://beta.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00403312, registration no. NCT00403312.

This article looks into the factors that explain foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brazil by country of origin. We collected a sample of 180 countries with and without FDI in Brazil. We use multiple estimation techniques and controls to isolate the effect of country political risk on outward foreign direct investment and show that countries with lower levels of political risk undertake more FDI in Brazil, and that features of the policy environment of home countries drive the negative relationship between risk and FDI. Furthermore, we show that the aspect of the political and institutional environment that is most likely to drive this negative relation between risk and investment into Brazil is related to the effectiveness of national governments. Our findings broaden the understanding of the puzzling influence of political risk on FDI observed in previous studies, correct for sampling and selection biases, and have substantive implications for policy design to attract FDI.