The determinants of nest-site selection and nest success are important for conservation planning for endangered birds. Here we examine factors driving nest-site selection and success for the Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi, also known as the Åga, across the entire range of the population, by comparing 370 nests that were found during surveys (2014–2021) against random points sampled from all forested areas on the island. Nest-sites were more likely to have high canopy cover than random points, while proximity to human infrastructure (e.g. roads, buildings) did not impact nest-site selection. None of our tested covariates impacted nest success, nor did the land-cover type in which the nests were found. Our results suggest that the Åga is able to nest successfully in close proximity to humans, and that nest success is not negatively affected by current land-use practices. Future research on the low nest success rate (23.9%) would be most fruitfully targeted towards local biotic stressors, such as nest predation or environmental factors, which may exacerbate the unknown inflammatory disease that afflicts many wild nestlings.

Liberia (West Africa) has an extensive (co)burden of urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis; each largely restricted to more inland areas. Where urogenital schistosomiasis is endemic, as both disease surveillance and case management are nascent, many women may unknowingly be living with Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS). Using a recently developed FGS score card, we appraised FGS score card valuations with point-of-care gynaecological and molecular parasitological evaluations as undertaken within typical primary care settings of four Liberian counties. A total of 400 women, 100 participants from each of four endemic inland counties, underwent a cursory gynaecological examination using a speculum for visible FGS lesions, undertaken by a midwife, and provided a urine sample that was examined by centrifugation with microscopy for Schistosoma ova. Urine-sediments in ethanol were later analysed with a high-resolution melt (HRM) real-time (rt) PCR assay to screen for Schistosoma genetic markers. Using a combination of clinical and parasitological information, overall prevalence of UGS and FGS was <10% and a single case of putative FGS-associated co-infection with Schistosoma mansoni was observed. Participant interviews with the FGS score cards provided an insight into at-risk lifestyle and environmental factors, e.g. women who fished regularly were more likely to present with FGS whereas those who lived > 15 km from a local river were less likely to present with FGS. In this resource-poor setting of Liberia, active surveillance for FGS with either clinical or parasitological methods remains challenging such that sole future use of the FGS score card is most pragmatic for primary care.

Given its assumption that cognition is embodied, the multitrait framework could benefit from engaging with recent work in embodied cognitive science. Here, we introduce three lines of contemporary research—from ecological psychology, basal cognition, and embodied cognitive neuroscience—which help contextualize the article’s “trait-linkage” findings and further support the authors’ arguments for evolutionary continuity between simple and complex cognitive traits.

Background: The selection of agent for antimicrobial prophylaxis for urological procedures is guided by the results of urine cultures taken prior to the day of surgery, which can lead to variability. National society guidance recommends single-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis immediately before urologic surgery; however, significant heterogeneity remains among practicing urologists with regards to pre-treating (or post-treating) bacteriuria identified on preoperative urine culture as well as choice of antimicrobial administered. As part of an institutional quality improvement initiative, we endeavored to optimize antimicrobial selection and duration of therapy through the use of a dedicated preoperative urine culture paired with recommendations. Method: This was a single-center, prospective study of urological surgeries. A dedicated preoperative urine culture was created in partnership with our institution’s microbiology lab and antimicrobial stewardship program intended solely for the selection of preoperative prophylaxis. Antibiotic stewardship program members reviewed these urine cultures and provided recommendations to urologic surgeons. Primary outcome was postoperative infectious complication within 90 days, with sub-analyses performed for stone and prosthetic cases, which carry higher infectious complication risks. Result: The preoperative urine culture was ordered prior to 381 urology cases from 9/27/23-4/15/24. There were 41 (10.8%) infectious postoperative complications. 64/381 (16.8%) patients received pretreatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria at the surgeon’s discretion, deviating from protocol recommendations for single-dose prophylaxis. Similarly, 44/381 (11.5%) patients received postoperative antimicrobials off-protocol per surgeon discretion. There was no statistically significant difference in infectious postoperative complication rates among patients who received pretreatment (15.6%, n=10/64) versus those who did not (9.8%, n=31/317 [p=0.18]), nor in those who received postoperative antimicrobials (13.6% (n=6/44) versus not (10.4%, n=35/337 [p=0.44]). Subgroup analyses of patients with nephrolithiasis or prosthetic material showed no benefit with supplemental antimicrobials. There were 294 total days of therapy in cases with guidance-based prophylaxis (n=294), and 611 days for pre- and/or post-treated cases (n=87), representing an excess of 524 days of antimicrobial therapy. Conclusion: We implemented a specific antimicrobial stewardship initiative linking a urine culture ordering process to succinct evidence-based advice. Deviation from advice did not result in improved outcomes but did result in excess antimicrobial days. Subgroup analysis also suggested single-dose prophylaxis is appropriate for patients considered higher risk for infectious complications. These findings support the recommendation from the American Urological Association that a single dose of antimicrobial prophylaxis is sufficient for the majority of urologic cases and demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to ability to safely implement such practice.

Galaxy Zoo is an online project to classify morphological features in extra-galactic imaging surveys with public voting. In this paper, we compare the classifications made for two different surveys, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) imaging survey and a part of the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS), in the equatorial fields of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. Our aim is to cross-validate and compare the classifications based on different imaging quality and depth. We find that generally the voting agrees globally but with substantial scatter, that is, substantial differences for individual galaxies. There is a notable higher voting fraction in favour of ‘smooth’ galaxies in the DESI+zoobot classifications, most likely due to the difference between imaging depth. DESI imaging is shallower and slightly lower resolution than KiDS and the Galaxy Zoo images do not reveal details such as disc features and thus are missed in the zoobot training sample. We check against expert visual classifications and find good agreement with KiDS-based Galaxy Zoo voting. We reproduce the results from Porter-Temple+ (2022), on the dependence of stellar mass, star formation, and specific star formation on the number of spiral arms. This shows that once corrected for redshift, the DESI Galaxy Zoo and KiDS Galaxy Zoo classifications agree well on population properties. The zoobot cross-validation increases confidence in its ability to compliment Galaxy Zoo classifications and its ability for transfer learning across surveys.

This study identified 26 late invasive primary surgical site infection (IP-SSI) within 4–12 months of transplantation among 2073 SOT recipients at Duke University Hospital over the period 2015–2019. Thoracic organ transplants accounted for 25 late IP-SSI. Surveillance for late IP-SSI should be maintained for at least one year following transplant.

The Niagara Escarpment is a fractured Palaeozoic sedimentary cuesta, subject to year-round weathering in a temperate climate. We examined the temperature of the rock surface and fractures at three in situ sites with varying aspect and lithology, as well as the surface and interior of three control blocks maintained in outdoor conditions between December 2020 and March 2021. The objectives were to examine the interplay between freeze–thaw and thermal weathering in the winter months and to identify potential factors influencing these processes. Both diurnal-scale and prolonged freeze–thaw cycles differing in spatial and temporal extent were identified, coincident with periods of high moisture. We frequently observed rapid temperature changes (>1 °C min−1) at sites with strong insolation, which implies that the temperature regime is suitable for thermal shock and fatigue to occur. Site-specific factors, such as the aspect of the escarpment face and lithology, impact the mechanism and extent of weathering. Southeast-facing sites with high insolation are dominated by diurnal-scale freeze–thaw; west- and east-facing sites with lower insolation experience a more prominent prolonged freeze–thaw cycle. Across all sites there is a gradient between surface and fracture temperature that follows diurnal trends in air temperature and insolation. Variability in the surface-fracture gradient may enhance weathering processes by shifting the orientation and magnitude of stress, and by changing the spatial distribution of freezing and thawing. Our research indicates that site-specific factors and pre-existing fractures moderate the influence of air temperature and insolation on thermal gradients, and ultimately the weathering regime.