Knowledge of the status of ecosystems is vital to help develop and implement conservation strategies. This is particularly relevant to the Arctic where the need for biodiversity conservation and monitoring has long been recognised, but where issues of local capacity and logistic barriers make surveys challenging. This paper demonstrates how long-term monitoring programmes outside the Arctic can contribute to developing composite trend indicators, using monitoring of annual abundance and population-level reproduction of species of migratory Arctic-breeding waterbirds on their temperate non-breeding areas. Using data from the UK and the Netherlands, countries with year-round waterbird monitoring schemes and supporting relevant shares of Arctic-breeding populations of waterbirds, we present example multi-species abundance and productivity indicators related to the migratory pathways used by different biogeographical populations of Arctic-breeding wildfowl and wader species in the East Atlantic Flyway. These composite trend indicators show that long-term increases in population size have slowed markedly in recent years and in several cases show declines over, at least, the last decade. These results constitute proof of concept. Some other non-Arctic countries located on the flyways of Arctic-breeding waterbirds also annually monitor abundance and breeding success, and we advocate that future development of “Arctic waterbird indicators” should be as inclusive of data as possible to derive the most robust outputs and help account for effects of current changes in non-breeding waterbird distributions. The incorporation of non-Arctic datasets into assessments of the status of Arctic biodiversity is recognised as highly desirable, because logistic constraints in monitoring within the Arctic region limit effective population-scale monitoring there, in effect enabling “monitoring at a distance”.

Echinococcus equinus is a parasitic cestode primarily maintained within an equine-canine life cycle, with horses, donkeys, mules, and other ungulates serving as intermediate hosts. Although E. equinus has historically been considered non-zoonotic, recent molecular studies suggest that this assumption may need to be reevaluated. This study aimed to investigate the presence and molecular characterization of E. equinus in equids from Türkiye. A retrospective analysis of 52 equine necropsies performed between 2020 and 2025 identified hydatid cysts in one Arabian horse and two donkeys. Gross and histopathological examination confirmed the presence of hydatid cysts in the liver and lungs, exhibiting characteristic structural features. Molecular identification was conducted through PCR amplification targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mt-CO1) gene, with all positive samples confirmed as E. equinus through sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between the obtained sequences and reference E. equinus strains from other geographic regions. These findings provide the molecular confirmation of E. equinus in equids from Türkiye and underscore the need for targeted surveillance to better understand its distribution, transmission, and zoonotic relevance, especially considering the first confirmed human case reported in the country in 2021.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 8 children are classified as obese, with Māori and Pacific communities disproportionately affected(1). While maternal nutrition has been extensively studied, paternal impacts and the combined effect of both parents’ obesogenic environments on offspring health remain underexplored(2). The primary objective of this study is to characterise the metabolic phenotype of parent rats fed a High Fat High Sugar (HFHS) diet and investigate the birth characteristics of their offspring, from a factorial mating design.Eighty female and 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to a standard chow diet (SD) (24% protein, 18% fat, 58% carbohydrates) or HFHS diet (Specialty Feeds SF23-120: 16% protein, 41% fat, 43% carbohydrates) for five weeks prior to mating. Females were then continued on their respective diets throughout pregnancy and lactation. Four mating combinations were established: SDmum-SDdad, SDmum-HFHSdad, HFHSmum-SDdad, and HFHSmum-HFHSdad. A subset of parents (n=38) underwent body composition assessments using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Additionally, a subgroup (n=23) was evaluated for metabolic profiles using Prometheon metabolic cages. Offspring birth weights and body lengths were recorded. The HFHS diet’s efficacy was confirmed in both male and female rats, with HFHS groups showing higher body weight (females: 327.1 g ± 19.7 vs. 288.2 g ± 20.1; males: 575.8 g ± 39.8 vs. 532.6 g ± 50.3; p < 0.05), greater fat percentage (females: 46.8% ± 5.6 vs. 29.2% ± 5.6; males: 40.5% ± 7.2 vs. 28.7% ± 6.8; p < 0.001), and a lower respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (females: 0.8108 ± 0.0275 vs. 0.8679 ± 0.0288; males: 0.8257 ± 0.0304 vs. 0.8759 ± 0.0266; p < 0.05) compared to the SD group. In male offspring, birth weights in HFHSmum-SDdad (6.3 g ± 0.9) and HFHSmum-HFHSdad (6.0 g ± 0.9) groups were significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than in SDmum-SDdad (6.980 g ± 0.7753) and SDmum-HFHSdad (7.0 g ± 0.7) groups. Birth weights were further reduced in HFHSmum-HFHSdad versus HFHSmum-SDdad (Mean Diff. = 0.3g; p < 0.05).Body lengths in HFHSmum-HFHSdad males were shorter (43.1 mm ± 3.2; p < 0.0001) compared to other groups (≥ 45.3 mm). Female offspring birth weights were lower in the HFHSmum-SDdad (5.8g ± 0.8) and HFHSmum-HFHSdad groups (5.8 g ± 0.9; p<0.0001) compared to the other groups (means ≥ 6.4g) but paternal HFHS diet had no additional effect on birth weight. As with males, body lengths in the HFHSmum-HFHSdad female offspring were significantly shorter (4 mm ± 3; p<0.0001) compared to all other groups (≥44mm). Parental HFHS diets synergistically reduce offspring birth length and weight, with stronger effects in males. These findings underscore the importance of inclusive dietary guidelines for both parents to reduce intergenerational obesity risk and support long-term health.

Background: Ischemic stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Canada. Since 2015, mechanical thrombectomy has been the standard of care for eligible large vessel occlusions (LVOs), though anesthetic strategies remain variable. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation LVOs between 2021 and 2023. Patients were categorized by anesthetic strategy (general anesthesia vs. conscious sedation), and outcomes, including time to recanalization, angiographic results (mTICI), and 90-day functional status (mRS), were compared. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Among 226 patients, 177 (78%) received general anesthesia and 49 (22%) underwent conscious sedation. Baseline characteristics including sex, age, NIHSS, ASPECTS, collaterals, and laterality were similar between groups. Conscious sedation was associated with a statistically significant shorter time from arrival to the angiography suite to groin puncture (p=0.007), but no differences in time to recanalization (p=0.893), angiographic outcomes (p=0.987), or 90-day functional status (p=0.795) were observed. Conclusions: Conscious sedation led to faster procedural initiation, though no difference in clinical or radiographic outcome was observed. Anesthetic choice should be individualized based on patient and physician factors in acute mechanical thrombectomy.

Background: TeleStroke can improve access to stroke care in rural areas. We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis in our TeleStroke system. Methods: The Manitoba TeleStroke program was rolled out across 7 sites between November 2014 and January 2019. We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected consecutive acute stroke patients’ data in this duration. The primary outcome was safety and effectiveness measured in terms of 90-day modified Rankin score (mRs). The number of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receiving thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy [EVT] and process metrics were also analyzed. R/RStudio version-4.3.2 was used (p<0.05). Results: Of the 1,748 TeleStroke patients (age 71 years [IQR 58-81], female 810[46.3%]), 696 were identified as AIS. Of these, 265(38.1%) received thrombolysis and 48(6.9%) EVT. Ninety-day mortality was 53(20.0%) among those receiving thrombolysis and 117(44.2%) had a favorable outcome (mRs ≤2). Of those who received intravenous thrombolysis, 9 patients (4.2%) were found to have symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. The median last-seen-normal (LSN)-to-door was121 minutes and the median door-to-needle, 55 minutes. Conclusions: Intravenous thrombolysis was found to be effective with acceptable safety. TeleStroke improved overall access to stroke care and played an important role in identifying AIS patients eligible for thrombolysis and EVT.

Background: Nipocalimab is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting FcRn that selectively reduces IgG levels without impacting antigen presentation, T- and B-cell functions. This study describes the effect of nipocalimab on vaccine response. Methods: Open-label, parallel, interventional study randomized participants 1:1 to receive intravenous 30mg/kg nipocalimab at Week0 and 15mg/kg at Week2 and Week4 (active) or no drug (control). On Day 3, participants received Tdap and PPSV®23 vaccinations and were followed through Wk16. Results: Twenty-nine participants completed the study and are included (active, n=15; control, n=14). Participants with a positive anti-tetanus IgG response was comparable between groups at Wk2 and Wk16, but lower at Wk4 (nipocalimab 3/15 [20%] vs control 7/14 [50%]; P=0.089). All maintained anti-tetanus IgG above the protective threshold (0.16IU/mL) through Wk16. While anti-pneumococcal-capsular-polysaccharide (PCP) IgG levels were lower during nipocalimab treatment, the percent increase from baseline at Wk2 and Wk16 was comparable between groups. Post-vaccination, anti-PCP IgG remained above 50mg/L and showed a 2-fold increase from baseline throughout the study in both groups. Nipocalimab co-administration with vaccines was safe and well-tolerated. Conclusions: These findings suggest that nipocalimab does not impact the development of an adequate IgG response to T-cell–dependent/independent vaccines and that nipocalimab-treated patients can follow recommended vaccination schedules.

The aerodynamic performance of an ultra-high aspect ratio strut-braced wing design is assessed for flight at cruise. The sensitivity of a selected airframe design from a recent CleanSky2 project to operating conditions around the design point is quantified using the adaptive-cut high-dimensional model representation (HDMR) method, which allows for the decomposition of the parameter space into smaller subdomains to isolate the parameter interactions and influence on the aerodynamic forces. A comparative analysis with a cantilever wing configuration is performed to identify the role of the strut on the sensitivity of the design. Insight into the transonic performance is gained by characterisation of buffet limits and drag rise. Results show that, for the selected optimised airframe configuration, small changes in freestream parameters can lead to significant reduction in performance due to drag divergence triggered by the shock wave generated at the strut-wing junction and at the fuselage-strut intersection. Cruise conditions can be achieved without buffet onset throughout much of the parameter space. Safety margins associated with buffeting are satisfied, but sensible limits are imposed on the flight envelope for this configuration.

Through a series of example research studies, we illustrate processes in translating case report forms to increase language diversity in study populations while simultaneously highlighting implications for data collection and analyses. The Northwestern University Data Analysis and Coordinating Center manages the translation of participant-facing study documents into languages other than English through a process that has been refined over several years, adjusting for changes in technical capabilities in electronic case report forms. This approach to manage, examine for context, and implement certified case report form translations offers an efficient workflow to streamline data capture in multiple languages.

We develop explicit bounds for the tail of the distribution of the all-time supremum of a random walk with negative drift, where the increments have a truncated heavy-tailed distribution. As an application, we consider a ruin problem in the presence of reinsurance.

The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) offers powerful new capabilities for studying the polarised and magnetised Universe at radio wavelengths. In this paper, we introduce the Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe’s Magnetism (POSSUM), a groundbreaking survey with three primary objectives: (1) to create a comprehensive Faraday rotation measure (RM) grid of up to one million compact extragalactic sources across the southern $\sim50$% of the sky (20,630 deg$^2$); (2) to map the intrinsic polarisation and RM properties of a wide range of discrete extragalactic and Galactic objects over the same area; and (3) to contribute interferometric data with excellent surface brightness sensitivity, which can be combined with single-dish data to study the diffuse Galactic interstellar medium. Observations for the full POSSUM survey commenced in May 2023 and are expected to conclude by mid-2028. POSSUM will achieve an RM grid density of around 30–50 RMs per square degree with a median measurement uncertainty of $\sim$1 rad m$^{-2}$. The survey operates primarily over a frequency range of 800–1088 MHz, with an angular resolution of 20” and a typical RMS sensitivity in Stokes Q or U of 18 $\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$. Additionally, the survey will be supplemented by similar observations covering 1296–1440 MHz over 38% of the sky. POSSUM will enable the discovery and detailed investigation of magnetised phenomena in a wide range of cosmic environments, including the intergalactic medium and cosmic web, galaxy clusters and groups, active galactic nuclei and radio galaxies, the Magellanic System and other nearby galaxies, galaxy halos and the circumgalactic medium, and the magnetic structure of the Milky Way across a very wide range of scales, as well as the interplay between these components. This paper reviews the current science case developed by the POSSUM Collaboration and provides an overview of POSSUM’s observations, data processing, outputs, and its complementarity with other radio and multi-wavelength surveys, including future work with the SKA.

Hospital food service quality significantly impacts patient satisfaction with overall care(1) and can influence food intake, thereby increasing the risk of malnutrition(2). By contrast, meals tailored to patients’ needs result in lower complications and hospitalisation costs(3). With Australia’s ageing population and projected increases among racial and ethnic minority migrants, service delivery must adapt to promote equity and inclusion in the healthcare system. However, data is lacking on the lived experience, preferences, and acceptance of hospital food service and meal quality among older patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. This study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the differences in hospital food services related to cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were planned among 15 Australian-born and 15 CALD-background patients, aged 65 years or over, admitted to the Department of General Medicine at Flinders Medical Centre. Patients admitted with a highly contagious infectious disease (e.g., COVID-19), those referred for palliative care, receiving parenteral or enteral nutrition, or on nil-by-mouth orders were excluded. Translators were available to participants upon request. With participants’ consent, all interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase process(4). Data was inductively coded with a phenomenological perspective to explore participants’ experiences with hospital food services. Similar codes were grouped together and further developed into themes through iterative discussions with the research team. The current analysis involved six participants from each group to present preliminary results. Among the 12 participants, the mean age was 82 years, ranging from 72–92 in the Australian-born group and 68–92 in the CALD group. Five primary themes emerged: (1) No Complaints—participants did not want to complain about their meals, preferring staff to focus on their healthcare. This attitude was compounded for CALD participants who lacked the language to voice complaints; (2) Food and Identity—CALD participants viewed themselves separately from Australian-born patients, with the lack of culturally familiar food contributing to a feeling of being the minority; (3) Acceptance—the food service was viewed in the context of the overall hospital system, with participants accepting that meals may not suit their preference; (4) Experiences of the Food Service—influenced by participant’s individual preferences for meal quality, menu options, and staff interactions; and (5) Nutrition and Health—All participants had a preference for smaller portions due to their perception of reduced nutritional needs, yet meals were also valued for enjoyment. These preliminary results indicate that hospital food services should offer culturally familiar options, improve patient-staff communication, and provide personalised, smaller portions to enhance patient experience. Addressing the enablers and barriers to meeting cultural and individual dietary needs in hospitals will promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare.

Low vitamin D status (circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration < 50 nmol/L) affects nearly one in four Australian adults(1). The primary source of vitamin D is sun exposure; however, a safe level of sun exposure for optimal vitamin D production has not been established. As supplement use is uneven, increasing vitamin D in food is the logical option for improving vitamin D status at a population level. The dietary supply of vitamin D is low since few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D. While there is no Australia-specific estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamin D, the Institute of Medicine recommends an EAR of 10 μg/day for all ages. Vitamin D intake is low in Australia, with mean usual intake ranging from 1.8–3.2 μg/day across sex/age groups(2), suggesting a need for data-driven nutrition policy to improve the dietary supply of vitamin D. Food fortification has proven effective in other countries. We aimed to model four potential vitamin D fortification scenarios to determine an optimal strategy for Australia. We used food consumption data for people aged ≥ 2 years (n = 12,153) from the 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, and analytical food composition data for vitamin D3, 25(OH)D3, vitamin D2 and 25(OH)D2(3). Certain foods are permitted for mandatory or voluntary fortification in Australia. As industry uptake of the voluntary option is low, Scenario 1 simulated addition of the maximum permitted amount of vitamin D to all foods permitted under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (dairy products/plant-based alternatives, edible oil spreads, formulated beverages and permitted ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (RTEBC)). Scenarios 2–4 modelled higher concentrations than those permitted for fluid milk/alternatives (1 μg/100 mL) and edible oil spreads (20 μg/100 g) within an expanding list of food vehicles: Scenario 2—dairy products/alternatives, edible oil spreads, formulated beverages; Scenario 3—Scenario 2 plus RTEBC; Scenario 4—Scenario 3 plus bread (which is not permitted for vitamin D fortification in Australia). Usual intake was modelled for the four scenarios across sex and age groups using the National Cancer Institute Method(4). Assuming equal bioactivity of the D vitamers, the range of mean usual vitamin D intake across age groups for males for Scenarios 1 to 4, respectively, was 7.2–8.8, 6.9–8.3, 8.0–9.7 and 9.3–11.3 μg/day; the respective values for females were 5.8–7.5, 5.8–7.2, 6.4–8.3 and 7.5–9.5 μg/day. No participant exceeded the upper level of intake (80 μg/day) under any scenario. Systematic fortification of all foods permitted for vitamin D fortification could substantially improve vitamin D intake across the population. However, the optimal strategy would require permissions for bread as a food vehicle, and addition of higher than permitted concentrations of vitamin D to fluid milks/alternatives and edible oil spreads.