Acoustic contamination assessment during the transition between the COVID-19 restrictions and reactivation:A exploratory analysis in Guayaquil

Noise pollution is becoming a critical health risk for city life.In 2020,the COVID-19 pandemic forced many cities to implement several mobility restrictions.These restrictions changed human activity patterns and decreased the noise levels and noise pollution that often affect urban settings.As the number of infections decreased,so did the outdoor activities,influencing the population’s perception of noise.This paper aims to evaluate the changes in noise levels associated with mobility restrictions between 2020 and 2021 in Guayaquil,Ecuador.This study used crowdsourcing with the help of smartphones and mobile applications to collect geo-referenced environmental noise data.The data was used to generate noise maps in different time frames.Finally,noise level maps were created using GIS-based tools to identify the urban areas that experienced the highest noise level variation during the study period.The results show that the most significant noise increase occurred at night.Furthermore,when analyzing noise level changes in different urban areas,the western area of Guayaquil was the one that experienced the most significant noise level variation.Findings inform the perception of noise pollution and could potentially serve as a reference for decision-makers during the proposal of public policies that ensure a better quality of life for its citizens.

Genetically-and environmentally-dependent processes drive interspecific and intraspecific divergence in the Chinese relict endemic genus Dipteronia

China is a hotspot of relict plant species that were once widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere.Recent research has demonstrated that the occurrence of long-term stable refugia in the mountainous regions of central and south-western China allowed their persistence through the late Neogene climate fluctuations.One of these relict lineages is Dipteronia,an oligotypic tree genus with a fossil record extending to the Paleocene.Here,we investigated the genetic variability,demographic dynamics and diversification patterns of the two currently recognized Dipteronia species(Dipteronia sinensis and D.dyeriana).Molecular data were obtained from 45 populations of Dipteronia by genotyping three cpDNA regions,two single copy nuclear genes and 15 simple sequence repeat loci.The genetic study was combined with niche comparison analyses on the environmental space,ecological niche modeling,and landscape connectivity analysis.We found that the two Dipteronia species have highly diverged both in genetic and ecological terms.Despite the incipient speciation processes that can be observed in D.sinensis,the occurrence of long-term stable refugia and,particularly,a dispersal corridor along Daba Shan-west Qinling,likely ensured its genetic and ecological integrity to date.Our study will not only help us to understand how populations of Dipteronia species responded to the tectonic and climatic changes of the Cenozoic,but also provide insight into how Arcto-Tertiary relict plants in East Asia survived,evolved,and diversified.

An unprotected vulnerable relict subtropical coniferdKeteleeria evelyniana:Its forests,populations,growth and endangerment by invasive alien plant species in China

Relict subtropical coniferous forests in China face severe fragmentation,resulting in declining populations,and some are under significant threat from invasive alien species.Despite the crucial importance of understanding forest dynamics,knowledge gaps persist,particularly regarding the impact of invasive plants on vulnerable natives like Keteleeria evelyniana.In this study,we investigated the impact of invasive plants on the regeneration of forests dominated by K.evelyniana,a subtropical relict species in southwestern China.For this purpose,we characterized forest dynamics of 160 forest plots featuring K.evelyniana as the primary dominant species and determined whether the presence of invasive plants was correlated with regeneration of K.evelyniana.We identified four distinct forest types in which K.evelyniana was dominant.We found that radial growth of K.evelyniana trees is faster in younger ageclasses today than it was for older trees at the same age.The population structure of K.evelyniana in each forest type exhibited a multimodal age-class distribution.However,three forest types lacked established saplings younger than 10 years old,a situation attributed to the dense coverage of the invasive alien Ageratina adenophora.This invasive species resulted in a reduction of understory species diversity.Additionally,our analysis uncovered a significant negative correlation in phylogenetic relatedness(net relatedness index)between native and invasive alien plant species in eastern Yunnan.This suggests closely related invasive species face heightened competition,hindering successful invasion.Taken together,our findings indicate that successful establishment and habitat restoration of K.evelyniana seedling/saplings require effective measures to control invasive plants.

Endodontic irrigants from a comprehensive perspective

This review article explores the fundamental principles of modern endodontics with a focus on root canal cleaning and shaping.It reviews commonly used endodontic irrigant,namely sodium hypochlorite(NaOCl),herbal extracts,chlorhexidine(CHX),and chelating agents,highlighting their properties,applications,and potential drawbacks.NaOCl,a key antimicrobial agent,demonstrates effectiveness against various microorganisms but poses challenges such as high cytotoxicity.Herbal extracts,gaining recognition in endodontics,present an alternative with potential advantages in preserving dentin integrity.CHX,known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity,is discussed in both liquid and gel formulations,emphasizing its role in reducing smear layer formation and preserving hybrid layer durability.Chelating agents,specifically ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and citric acid,play a vital role in removing the smear layer,enhancing dentin permeability,and facilitating the penetration of antimicrobial agents.The review article underscores the importance of careful application and consideration of each irrigant's properties to ensure safe and effective endodontic procedures.It serves as a valuable guide for clinicians in selecting appropriate irrigants based on specific treatment requirements.

Neurocysticercosis and hippocampal damage: a causal link favored by epileptogenesis or neuroinflammation?

Cysticercosis is a frequent parasitic infection of the nervous system that occurs when humans become intermediate hosts of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium (T. solium), after ingesting its eggs. The disease is usually transmitted person-to-person, from Taenia carriers to healthy individuals, through non-hygienic handling of food or by direct contact with human feces. Ingestion of undercooked pork contaminated with cysticerci as the cause of human cysticercosis is a common misconception, since the role of pigs is to maintain the infection cycle by causing human taeniasis.